The summer of Kent Johnson ended in triumph.
In seven months, the Port Moody product was kept busy while playing with three of Canada's top-level men's teams at international events around the world.
And all the travelling, training and hard work this year was lifted off his shoulders in celebration on Saturday night (Aug. 20) in Edmonton.
Johnson potted the game-winning overtime goal for the Canadians to claim the 2022 World Junior Championships in a 3-2 victory over Finland.
Only three minutes and 20 seconds were needed to settle the final in the three-on-three extra frame as the 19-year-old had to think quickly after his first attempt was stopped by opposing netminder Juha Jatkola.
"I saw a nice move by Stank [Logan Stakoven], I thought he'd slide it over, and thought if I went to the backhand, the five-hole would open up," said Johnson post-game about his third tally of the rescheduled tournament — his 10th as a member of Team Canada.
"I had a lot more room than that, and, luckily, I banged in the rebound there. So, yeah, it was just huge."
Johnson, a Port Moody Amateur Hockey Association alum and former North Shore Winter Club player, finished the World Juniors with nine points on the board, including six assists.
The red and white's alternate captain also scored one of the highlight-reel goals of the 2022 redux.
The Saturday before (Aug. 13), he pulled off the Michigan lacrosse-style goal to give Canada a 2-1 lead in the first period against the Czech Republic in the team's third preliminary match.
Now, Johnson is likely to be looking ahead to potentially suiting up for his first full professional season after representing Canada at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the men's world championships.
He signed a three-year, entry-level contact with the Columbus Blue Jackets in April, nearly a year after he was taken fifth overall by the club in the 2021 NHL Draft.
After his University of Michigan Wolverines were eliminated from the NCAA Div. I playoffs, he put pen to paper and was able to record three assists in nine games with Columbus near the end of their 2021-22 NHL campaign.
Johnson is set to join the Blue Jackets for training camp in September, including a split-squad series for two of eight total preseason contests.
