Cam Johnson reflects on his time in the ECHL

His first call-up to the NHL came as a surprise, as the New Jersey Devils needed a goalie in the middle of a road trip out west. He was actually sleeping and missed the call from his coach! Mackenzie Blackwood was injured and New Jersey needed a backup to Keith Kinkaidimmediately. Thankfully he did get the message shortly after and Cam Johnson pulled off the rare triple play on Jan. 6 when he was called up to the NHL, making it the third league that he appeared in this season following stints in the AHL (Binghamton Devils) and ECHL (Adirondack Thunder).

After starting the season in Binghamton, there was a logjam in their crease and the 24-year-old Johnson was the odd-goalie out. Instead of sulking while in the ECHL he made the best of his situation and took advantage of what any goalie wants: playing time. He was named CCM/ECHL Goaltender of The Week (Oct. 29-Nov.4), and through nine games overall he was 3-5-1 before being recalled to Binghamton. 

He didn’t get to play at all during his week in New Jersey, but Johnson did get to practice with the pros and was a sponge for information throughout the duration of his time there. I spoke with the first-year pro following New Jersey’s home game on Jan. 10 to gauge his impressions of the time he spent in the ECHL and what his mindset has been for the past four months as he makes the transition from collegiate athlete to professional athlete.

In your wildest dreams did you ever think after you were sent to the ECHL that you’d get called up to the NHL a month or two later?

“Yeah, in my dreams I would dream that I’m playing in the NHL. It obviously didn’t end up the way that I thought it would happen. To bounce around and get a feel for each of the leagues it shows how hard it is to make it and how close you really are. It’s just about sticking to the process, remembering why you are where you are, and trusting yourself, developing yourself into the best that you can be.”

It wasn’t because of your play, it was a numbers game, but was it frustrating at all to start this season in the AHL and then get sent to the ECHL? 

“It’s definitely frustrating, no one likes to ever get sent down. Being sent down (to Adirondack) was a little tough at first, but then again it was a great opportunity. I got to go there and play a bunch of games, I was the guy down there. In that aspect it was really beneficial for me to get down there and kind of get my feet wet (as a pro) and just play in games. That’s one thing that they wanted me to get this year - a ton of minutes. Whether that be in the AHL or the ECHL. I kind of expected it. I knew I’d have to grind. It’s pro hockey and I’m figuring it out. It’s tough, its a little different but its good; a good experience.”

The biggest thing that you learned while in the ECHL?

“I would say that you can’t control everything. You can only worry about what you can control. There is so much that happens in a season and I look at myself for an example - going down to the ECHL and up to the NHL - just kind of bouncing all over the place. But everything happens for a reason and it’s a long season. It’s tough at times, it’s a bit of a grind and keeps you on your toes. I tell you what, its a special thing (playing hockey) and we have the best job on earth, that’s for sure.”

Did you ever play with blue goalposts before? And were you aware of it before you got there?

“Haha, no that was the first time that I ever played with the blue posts. It was pretty weird at first, I’m not going to lie. But you get used to it pretty quickly. Yeah I knew the posts were going to be blue, I’ve had some buddies that have played in the league so I knew beforehand.”

Obviously, you haven’t played an NHL game yet, but you have had a few practices. What’s the biggest difference from the minor leagues to the NHL? 

“Definitely the sharpness. The sharpness of guys at the rink at practice and games. It’s the highest level. Up here it’s really sharp and guys come to the rink ready to go. Everyone’s a pro here, everyone’s good. I’d say that’s the biggest difference. As you get down through the leagues, in the ECHL guys it’s a lot of guys just still wanting to play hockey whereas here it’s your job to play hockey. Definitely more serious up here and as you go down the ladder you have to be a self starter, that’s one of the things that we preach. It’s all good hockey though, it’s not anything too crazy. From the ECHL to the NHL - it’s faster, quicker, the guys are better but it’s nothing too crazy.”