The Penticton Vees Jr. ‘A’ Hockey Club has signed defenceman Kenny Johnson (98), the team announced Wednesday afternoon.
President, General Manager and Head Coach Fred Harbinson, “We had a spot open on our backend with the injury to Sam Rossini, and Kenny is the piece we were looking for. He’s a big body that plays a heavy game and he’s a sound player on both sides of the puck.”
Johnson, 18, comes to Penticton after spending the last four years at the prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Faribault, Minnesota. Johnson spent the last two seasons playing for the school’s prep team, where he appeared in 91 games, picking up 10 goals and 53 points. The 6’3, 220 pound blue-liner also played on both Shattuck-St. Mary’s Under-16 and Bantam Tier One teams. The Ann Arbor, Michigan, native is the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, and is committed to the University of Michigan.
Johnson will wear number 28 with the Vees and his signing fills out the team’s 22-man roster.
Shattuck-St. Mary’s has a rich history of NHL alumni, including Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Zach Parise. The Vees also have a connection to the school, as alumni Mike Reilly and Anthony Brodeur also played their prep hockey there.
Johnson will have a chance to make his Vees debut this weekend on the team’s three-game Island Division road trip. The Vees play Powell River Friday, Alberni Valley Saturday and Cowichan Valley Sunday afternoon.
