While Rob Johnson is a Bomber, he hopes his future involves a different aircraft – a fighter jet.
The 19-year-old Flin Flon Bombers forward is committed to study and play next season at the Air Force Academy, which competes at the NCAA Division I level. Johnson, who committed to the school during the 2014-2015 season, wants to pursue being an Air Force pilot.
“I’ve always had a dream to fly planes and I thought what better college would there be than the Air Force?”
Acquired in November, Johnson has been a positive addition for the Bombers. The six foot, 180-pound player has six goals and 10 points in 11 games with Flin Flon.
“He brings a lot of skill and a lot of pace to our game,” assistant coach Garry Childerhose said. “He fits right into our top six.”
Before advancing to the junior ranks, Johnson developed his game at Kelowna’s Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy. His junior career has included stops in Trail and Surrey in the BC Hockey League and Whitecourt and Lloydminster in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as well as suiting up in his listed hometown of Kamloops at the Junior B level. Bombers head coach Mike Reagan and the staff see a lot of potential in Johnson.
Childerhose praised Johnson’s high skill level, skating ability, and faceoff skill. Johnson and Nate Hooper are often put together on a line and are demonstrating chemistry. Johnson said that his whole experience so far in
Flin Flon has been great.
“The community is all about their hockey,” he said. “My billet parents, Dave and Tara Pickell, are awesome and are super fun. The coaching staff know what they’re doing and will help me continue on my path to developing into a college player.”
Johnson was born in Vancouver. He lived there until his family moved to Kamloops when he was 14. As his mother is American, Johnson applied for and received U.S. citizenship. He is now a dual citizen. This allows him to be a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy.
“There are a lot of attractive things about the academy, but what excites me most is their level of NCAA hockey,” Johnson said. “Also, before you attend the Air Force you have to go through basic training which sounds pretty interesting.”
The Academy is located north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The campus is 18,500 acres on which about 4,235 cadets train.
“I’ve visited the academy before,” Johnson said. “It’s a massive base on the mountain of Colorado Springs and I think it’s one of the most unbelievable schools.”
Johnson will be challenged in many ways at the academy. Academically, he plans to major in computer science. After graduation, Johnson will receive the rank of second lieutenant in the Air Force. Graduates must commit to a number of years of service. This number varies, but Johnson said that since he hopes to be a pilot it would up to 10.
