JOHNSTON LOOKING TO STEP UP IN THIRD YEAR
By Kevin Parnell
MacKenzie Johnston is fully aware of what is at stake for him this year.
Johnston will enter his third full season with the Rockets in the 2011-12 WHL season, a year in which he will look to become a regular member of the Rockets top four defencemen. Due to his October birthday, Johnston also enters his NHL draft year this season.
Those two factors are the main reason the Swift Current native has been working so hard, bulking up, and getting ready for what will be the biggest year of his young hockey career.
“I’m just trying to get stronger so that I’m not getting pushed around, so I’m the guy that is doing the pushing,” said Johnston, in between two-a-day workouts in Kelowna this week.
“I want to be a big physical prescence and to try and shut down the other team’s offensive lines. Just being in the gym and working out getting stronger and meaner is what I have to do,” he said.
Last year Johnston admits to having a tough start to the season. He wasn’t alone as the Rockets limped out of the gates to a 4-10 start. But in the second half of the season, and especially in the playoffs, Johnston turned his season around and showed that he can be a top blueliner for the Rockets.
“There is no doubt at times last year Mackenzie showed he can play against the other team’s better players,” said Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger this off season. There is no lack of work on his part. If his maturity level keeps progressing, I think he will be in a good position to help our team and our back end.”
To prepare for the season, Johnston has been spending a lot of time in Calgary where he has worked out and skated. Last week he came to Kelowna and has been in the gym working out alongside former Rockets players Brandon McMillan and Tyler Myers. He has also been working with Rockets skating coach Aaron Konecsni as well as Kelowna based skating coach David Roy.
He says being back in the Rockets dressing room and in Kelowna has been great.
“It’s nice to be back, it’s a great city,” he said. “It gives you that extra push, you are in your home gym and it brings back pretty good memories working out with Brandon (McMillan). It brings me back to when I was 16.”
It is also giving Johnston a glimpse into the work ethic it takes to make the jump to the next level. Johnston will remain in Kelowna for another week, continuing to work out and skate as well as looking forward to being around the Rockets Alumni weekend, which begins with the golf tournament Thursday July 21. (There are a few spots available…click here for info.)
With the calendar set to change to August, Johnston knows Rockets training camp will be here soon and his and the Rockets season will be underway.
When it does begin, Johnston will try to build on what he did in last year’s playoffs when he was playing as one of the Rockets top four defencemen.
“That gives me a lot of confidence going into the season,” he said. “I felt like I just started playing well. I didn’t want the season to end. Now I get to come back and be faster, stronger and older. I’m just excited to get going after a really good finish last year.”
