Weyburn Red Wings head therapist and trainer, Mike Johnson, 31, was the head therapist for Team Canada West at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The tournament, which ran from Nov.
Weyburn Red Wings head therapist and trainer, Mike Johnson, 31, was the head therapist for Team Canada West at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
The tournament, which ran from Nov. 5-11, was a huge commitment for Johnson, who spent 20 nights between Calgary and Yarmouth, before Canada West lost in the gold medal game to the United States 6-3 on Remembrance Day.
"To pick up and leave my clinic (in Weyburn), I don't know if I would do it again," said Johnson.
For Canada West, Johnson was the team's only trainer and head therapist. He designed and ran 20-minute warmups for both practice and games along with half-hour cool-downs after each game and practice.
"Then we did different types of therapies at either the rink or at the hotel. I had my table with me wherever I went."
They were long days with Canada West - at least 12-14 hour days, which doesn't really differ much from Johnson's work days in Weyburn.
"It would be easier to say how many hours I am at home," said, Johnson, laughing about his work schedule.
"It's what I enjoy doing. I never feel like I have to go to work."
Along with being the massage therapist and trainer of the Red Wings, Johnson has opened his own gym, "Pursuit Strength and Conditioning", which is located on Second Street, and shares Railway Chiropractic and Massage with chiropractor Dr. John Corrigan.
At the evaluation camp in Calgary, prior to the Junior A Challenge, Johnson was able to rub shoulders with the head therapist for the Calgary Flames and Canada's Olympic team.
"They taught me a couple things that were quite neat. But, more so it was just affirmation that I have been doing the right things."
Often time as a trainer Johnson said you are left up to your own devices and he noted that therapists are generally secretive.
"I don't go over to La Ronge's trainer and talk shop. You don't cross the line. It's us against them."
For this reason, he said therapists often don't know for sure if what they are doing is standard protocol or if they have just invented their own practices.
Asked if he has aspirations to advance to the professional ranks, he said being with the Red Wings is where he is content.
"I have really enjoyed working in junior A and I want to stay here. It's fun building a program and serving the community."
Johnson's biggest goal is to stay in Weyburn and to be the best therapist for the Red Wings.
"I grew up in a small town and I think the biggest thing for me was there was no one around a small town who wanted to stick around and help the kids develop. So, I have the education and the background to do that and I enjoy living in a small town."
Johnson doesn't enjoy living in a city, has built his own business here, has family is close and he has developed relationships with the community and athletes.
He said he has worked with the Red Wings long enough that he has began to know many of the players in the Red Wings system and has worked with them in strength and conditioning over the summer.
"I have an emotional investment having worked with kids now who are 20, who I started with when they were 16 or 17. and have been through that development cycle," Johnson continued.
"I don't want to sell my life out for hockey by working at the higher levels, because the higher you go, the less personal life you have."
