Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 | 8:23 a.m.
John Johnson had a restless cruise, from San Diego around Hawaii and back, over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
That ship might as well have sailed to Vancouver, British Columbia, and docked there for a couple of weeks, because that's where Johnson's grandson, Jack Johnson Jr., represented the United States in the world junior hockey championships.
"It was slim picking, but we got results," the elder Johnson said of Internet searches for tournament information on the high seas. "Not much else."
Stacks of newspaper and magazine articles, media guides and photographs of Jack Johnson on the kitchen table of his Spanish Trail home attest to Johnson's devotion to his grandson, one of America's burgeoning hockey stars.
Jack Johnson Jr., a freshman defenseman at the University of Michigan, was selected third by the Carolina Hurricanes in last year's National Hockey League draft. Pittsburgh picked Sidney Crosby first and Bobby Ryan went second, to Anaheim.
USA Today hailed the draft as the most attractive class the United States has ever produced as Ryan and Johnson were part of a record eight Americans called in the first round.
Jack Johnson ended contract negotiations with the Hurricanes, who own his rights for four years, to fulfill a lifelong dream and play for the Wolverines and famous coach Red Berenson. Michigan has played in nine of the past 14 Frozen Fours, winning two NCAA titles.
At 14, Jack became the youngest hockey player to ever commit to Michigan.
John Johnson and his companion, longtime Clark County elementary school principal Kathryn Augsburger, saw the Wolverines play at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks in October, and they plan to see them at the University of Nebraska-Omaha next month.
For someone who watched both of his sons, Jack Sr. and Jimmy, play at Michigan State, John Johnson said seeing Junior extend the Johnson line has been more thrilling.
"We've had a helluva lot of fun with it," Johnson said. "I thought it was exciting when my two sons were playing college hockey, but this is even more exciting, when I know the kid is being watched so closely by scouts.
"And he's premier, in terms of performance."
Jack Johnson, who just turned 19, sounded as cool as a grizzled NHL veteran when reached on his cell phone in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"It's just awesome to have a relative out there keeping track of me," Jack Johnson said. "It's good to know I have a grandfather keeping an eye on me. It's a pretty special feeling."
The 81-year-old patriarch never skated on frozen ponds. He's a football fan who relished watching the Fighting Irish when he attended Notre Dame in the early 1940s.
John Johnson worked for Ford Motor Co. for 40 years. He moved to Las Vegas upon retiring as general sales manager of Ford tractor operations in 1985. He taught communications part time at UNLV until 2000.
After the United States failed to medal in Vancouver, Jack Johnson received a healthy round of boos -- he had elbowed Canadian Steve Downie in the tournament -- before bowing to the GM Place fans. Then he received a standing ovation from the crowd of 15,000.
"He's a tough kid," his grandfather said. "His dad figured, more than anything, he needed maturity ... that he needed to be more than just a high school kid to participate in the life of a pro hockey player.
"Pro hockey players, they live a fast life. Those kids, they're not encouraged to lay off the women or beer. So his dad thought another year, at Michigan, would be good for him."
Jack Johnson believes the Wolverines will make another run to the Frozen Four and then he'll again weigh his options with the Hurricanes. He said he'll make the proper decision at the proper time, but that he's in no rush.
"I'm having a wonderful time," he said.
So is his grandfather.
Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at [email protected].
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