Johnson hoping for late-season return
If it wasn’t for bad luck, Reese Johnson wouldn’t have any luck at all.
The right winger got into 15 games with the Red Deer Rebels as a 16-year-old two seasons ago and scored a pair of goals while playing much bigger than his six-foot, 175-pound size.
But he also missed half of the following campaign due to a left-shoulder injury that necessitated an operation and hasn’t played at all this season following October surgery on his right shoulder, which he injured during pre-season play in September.
Johnson returned to his Saskatoon home following his latest operation and six weeks later was back in Red Deer for an appointment with his surgeon. He returned to Red Deer again last week, met with the surgeon a second time and was cleared to begin skating, which he started Friday.
Still listed as indefinite on the weekly WHL injury report, Johnson could be back in uniform before the season ends.
“It does actually sound like I can play this season,” he said Thursday, prior to a practice session at the Centrium. “I was talking to the surgeon about the possibility of coming back. Obviously, I would first have to get cleared for contact, but the date could be right around March 10, before the playoffs.”
Johnson was of the mind that the shoulder injuries were of the freak nature, however after speaking more in depth with the surgeon, he learned it’s likely due to genetics.
“Apparently I have shallow shoulder sockets,” he said. “I’ve had shoulder problems in the past, but nothing this serious.”
Johnson, a list player who competed in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League at 15 years of age, was promoted to the Rebels after scoring 23 goals in 42 games with the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers as a 16-year-old in 2014-15.
He produced three goals and six points in 35 games last winter, but his development was then put on hold and has been shifted further into the background since his second surgery.
Johnson admitted it’s been tough sitting and watching his teammates (“you just wish you could be out there”) and thinking about how his development has been delayed is even more exasperating.
“That’s definitely the most frustrating part,” he said. “Last year was going to be a big year for me but I got hurt right around Christmas. This year I was hoping to come back, stay as positive as I could and have a big year, but unfortunately I got hurt again.
“I just have to try and stay positive,” added Johnson, who will celebrate his 19th birthday in July. “Hopefully I can come back next fall and have a big year. I still have time. Some guys develop later than others.”
Scouting Report
Rebels vs. Prince George Cougars; Tonight, 7 p.m., Centrium
The Cougars are 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games and with a record of 34-13-3-0, sit first in each of the B.C. Division and Western Conference, two point ahead of Everett, which has five games in hand . . . LW Nikita Popugaev paces all Prince George scorers with 24 goals and 59 points in 51 games between the Cougars and Moose Jaw Warriors. Next in line is C Jansen Harkins (15-35-50 in 44 games), while C Brad Morrison (19-27-46), LW Jesse Gabrielle (22-18-40 in 39 games), LW Radovan Bondra (23-16-39), RW Colby McAuley (16-21-37) and C Kody McDonald (10-22-32) each have produced 30 points or more. McDonald also boasts a plus-15 plus/minus ranking and has racked up 84 minutes in penalties, both team highs . . . Ty Edmonds is third among WHL netminders with a 2.40 goals-against average. He’s recorded 25 wins, posted a single shutout and possesses a save percentage of .917.
Injuries: Prince George — LW James Wishnowski (upper body, week-to-week). Red Deer — LW Brandon Cutler (upper body, day-to-day), D Jacob Herauf (lower body, day-to-day), RW Reese Johnson (upper body, indefinite), G Riley Lamb (lower body, day-to-day), LW Grayson Pawlenchuk (lower body, indefinite).
Special teams: Prince George — Power play 15.6 per cent, 20th overall; penalty kill 84.8 per cent, second. Red Deer — Power play 17.7 per cent, 16th overall; penalty kill 77 per cent, 15th.
