A professional ice hockey player from West Central is heading down under for his next opportunity.
Kolby Johnson dropped some major news while visiting the studio on Wednesday.
"Going down to Perth, in Australia," said Johnson. "To play with the Perth Thunder of the Australia Ice Hockey League."
Johnson is a former West Central Wheat King, and Kindersley Jr. Klipper, who played at the U SPORTS level for Trinity Western University before taking his game to the pro level south of the border. Now Johnson is back home in Saskatchewan before he flies to BC to pack his bags and will be joining the team shortly after getting his affairs in order.
"Pick up all my stuff from there, see my older brother, maybe climb a mountain, and then have to drive back." said Johnson as he will be on a plane as soon as he returns.
Johnson originally visited the studio for an interview to discuss his hockey career and life, more on that coming later, as the first matter of business had to do with learning more about the opportunity in Perth.
"I am just excited to be a top guy on this team and hone my skills. I know the league doesn't get as much respect... but I just find that a lot of guys in basketball play in summer leagues, and more and more guys are doing that in hockey.
"There are some pretty competitive ones out in Vancouver, down in Florida, but you don't get paid. This way I can get paid and get a job and network, because that is what it's really about, making new connections."
The well-traveled Johnson is also looking forward to adding Australia to his career map. His hockey career has taken him all over Canada and then the eastern United States, but this change to the land down under will certainly be the most notable.
"Widening your family and just telling a story. I am just excited to (go), and I think it is going to be something I remember the rest of my life."
Johnson's new team actually started their season over the weekend, the Perth Thunder taking a pair of wins over the Newcastle Northstars.