Max Johnson informed members of the Lakeville North boys’ lacrosse team that he will stay for his senior season after he originally planned to head to the United States Hockey League this spring.
Johnson, a senior forward on the Lakeville North boys’ hockey team, planned until this week to head to Sioux Falls to play for the USHL’s Stampede, who drafted him in the summer of 2014.
Johnson told me because of the playoff run the Stampede are on right now, they decided they did not need him quite yet. He decided to rejoin the lacrosse team to stay in shape this spring.
He does not know when he will join them, but he plans to play for Sioux Falls next year. He will head to Bowling Green the following year, which is where he committed to play Division-I hockey this past summer.
Lakeville North lacrosse coach Jeff Wright said the team is excited to have a “game-changer” back on the roster.
“It instantly provided our team with a boost of strength,” said Wright when he heard the news.
Johnson opted to stay for his senior hockey season despite the opportunity to leave last year to play for the Stampede; more on why he made that decision can be read here
In his sophomore and junior lacrosse seasons, Johnson helped lead Lakeville North to two state tournament appearances. He also played an integral role in the Panthers’ 31-0 state championship season in boys’ hockey in 2015.
Nick Kelly 