May 9, 2014
The NAU
Division II Ice Jacks have been around for quite some time. Once coach Travis
Johanson stepped into the head coaching position, all things changed for both
the team, and the coach. With the Ice Jacks having a 27-11-1 season, and making
it all the way to Boston for the ACHA National Championships, Coach Johanson
was there the entire way for these men.
Travis
was one of many who was actually born and raised in Flagstaff. Despite growing
up in Northern Arizona, Johanson left to pursue other dreams.
“I left
in High School to play midgets and juniors in Canada, in
search of better hockey and try to go further in hockey," Johanson says.
After
leaving Flagstaff High School, Johanson realized that hockey in Canada wasn't
working as planned for him, as it was for his sister. His sister played in Minnesota
for six years while attending school with a few famous names like Crosby,
Toews, Parise and more.
While in
Canada, Johanson attended Athol Murry Collage Notre Dame in Wilcox,
Saskatchewan.
"Playing
in Canada was tough, being a Yankee as they called us Americans. Being so far
away from home in a different country was a bit scary," Johanson says.
"It was a huge and difficult transition not only in hockey but life and
school."
School
was something in particular that was more difficult for him, especially since
Canadians use the metric system. Johanson says that out of everything, hockey
was the easiest.
"It
was a huge eye-opener playing against big Saskatchewan farm kids," he
said. "When I went up I was small and I didn't grow much until after high
school."
Despite
going to school in a whole different country without knowing anybody, fighting
was one thing that Johanson became fairly good at.
"The
big eye-opener was having to fight, which I didn't have much experience with
while playing in the United States. I had a few here but when you get your
stick up on someone, you better expect there would be a fight," Johanson
says.
Johanson
also says that fighting was a good thing because "it showed me how the
game is supposed to be played," and
that he had the chance to play with guys that have made some great hockey
careers.
Now,
Johanson's journey didn't stop there, he eventually came back to America. And
after being in Canada for just a year, when he returned back to Flagstaff, he
broke his leg, and then decided to play another year of hockey, just for his
dad.
"It
was an awesome year," he said, "There was a group of guys from Flagstaff,
about 12-15 guys that had played together since we were five or so."
Previously
during that year, five or six of them came back for a final year, and then they
ended up winning a Rocky Mountain District Championship.
After
Johanson decided to hang up his skates as a player, he began working for Eagle
Mountain construction and is now a superintendent. Johanson has been involved
in tons of projects here in Flagstaff.
Now,
just because he started his life back here in Flagstaff, didn't stop him from
getting on the ice at any chance he could get.
Travis
Johanson has been the head coach for the NAU Division II Ice Jacks for two
years, and spent three to four years as an assistant coach. With Johanson as
the head coach, the Ice Jacks have had some success, like their recent trip to
Boston for the ACHA National Championship.
Coaching
for the Ice Jacks has not been easy for Johanson. "It is tough, especially
this year just having our second boy in July. It was hard leaving my wife Jo'el
with a new born and a 2 1/2 year old."
Johanson
also adds, "My wife is awesome, letting me coach and be away so much, she
keeps us all together."
Having a
family and being a coach is not an easy thing to do.
"It's
very tiring, especially during the week leaving the rink around 11 at night and
being up for work at 4:30," Johanson says. "After practice is hard to
fall asleep because your mind is running a million times a minute. Then when I
get home it's time to be dad and make dinner, play with the boys, change diapers,
put them to bed, and do it all over again."
For
Johanson it is not an easy thing to do, but he somehow finishes out each day
strong. Super dad? Maybe. Dedicated parent and head coach, most definitely.
