Top amateur player invades The Ice Zone

Defenseman Erik Johnson could be the top draft pick in the NHL next year.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
BOARDMAN -- After a recent Mahoning Valley Phantoms game, a fan asked Coach Bob Mainhardt, "What do you think of that 'Johnson' defenseman in Ann Arbor?"
Mainhardt replied, "Which one?"
The words "Johnson," "defenseman," and "Ann Arbor" do not provide a singular reference, even when used in the same sentences.
It's been that way for nearly two years.
Erik Johnson, the 6-4, 225 pound defenseman from the U.S. National Under-18 Team, has drawn the spotlight of NHL scouts since September.
It shone brighter recently at the World Junior Championships in British Columbia over the holidays, and reached nova-like status last Friday when the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Service tapped him number one among all North American skaters in their mid-season rankings. He jumped ahead of Phil Kessel, who played on last year's U.S. U-18 team and is currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota.
Johnson and his teammates from Ann Arbor are in Boardman for the start of the Phantoms NAHL North Division Showcase at The Ice Zone. The U.S. will face the Traverse City North Stars at 4 p.m. today and Friday before facing the Phantoms on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday at Chevy Center
Saturday's game will be played at the Chevrolet Centre at 4 p.m. as part of a "Hockey Night in the Valley" doubleheader with the Youngstown SteelHounds, who will play Odessa at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday's match-up will return to The Ice Zone at 6:30 p.m.
Many scouts have forecasted Johnson and Kessel as the top two picks in the 2006 NHL Draft. It would mark the first time that American-born players were picked 1-2.
In 1983, Brian Lawton and Hall-of-Famer Pat LaFontaine were chosen first and third by Minnesota and the New York Islanders respectively.
There's more to Erik's imposing size that stands out.
"He's strong in all facets of the game," said Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's senior director of player operations. "It's fair to say that he has a blend of offensive and defensive abilities.
"He's just an all-around good hockey player. [He has] size and strength, with a hockey sense and ice awareness."
His Team USA coach at the World Juniors, Walt Kyle, sees nothing but the best for the native of Bloomington, Minnesota. "He's special," Kyle said. "He's going to be a very good pro, a very long-term pro.
At the WJC, Erik was paired on the blue line with the "other" Johnson: Jack. (No relation.) Like Kessel, Jack Johnson was also a member of last year's U.S. National Under-18 squad and was the No. 3 overall pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in last June's draft.
Split schedule
As part of their schedule, the U-18 team plays 19 games within the North American Hockey League (the Under-17 team plays the balance of the league's schedule), with the bulk of their games against international competition and NCAA Division I teams. After representing their country in Canada three weeks ago, the Johnsons opposed one another in their hockey hometown.
They are 10-0-0 this season in the NAHL and have lost just once since the beginning of last season. But current Phantom Drew Satterley remembers that loss well.
It was at last January's Showcase in Boardman to him and his former Soo Kewadin Indians, 3-2.
"That was huge. To beat a team with players like Kessel and [Jack] Johnson was awesome," Satterley said. "Hopefully, we can do it to them this weekend."
The Phantoms almost did it on opening night. On September 9, they were tied with the U.S. before the National Team scored with less than six minutes remaining in the game and added an empty net goal to win 5-3.