HOWELL — It wouldn't be difficult for most observers to pick the best moment for Howell hockey over the past five seasons.
There was a regional championship in 2020 and the Highlanders were preparing for the state semifinals, but the season ended when it was canceled due to the coronavirus shutdown.
It was another regional championship for a team that moved up to No. 5 in the state Division 1 rankings last season.
Those aren't the biggest memories to take away from Rocky Johnson's time leading the Highlanders.
“Honestly, it's about my relationship with my kids,” Johnson said. Johnson retired after five years as head coach and 10 years coaching in the Howell program.
“I'm getting text messages from past players saying, 'This is what you did for me and this is how you changed my life for the better.'” That's what it really is. That's the thing. That's the best part of all of this for me. ”
Mr. Johnson, 60, decided to step down because of his close family relationships.
With his daughter in Oklahoma due in July, Johnson wants the flexibility to visit Oklahoma State as often as possible without having to run a quality hockey program.
“We want to be a part of it and work together on that as much as possible,” Johnson said. “They live there, we live here. It's time to spend more time with the grandkids. The kids who play here are more focused, more You can't give them what they deserve.”
Howell led Johnson to a 66-56-5 record during his five seasons as head coach, playing in the tough KLAA West with Brighton, Hartland, Livonia Stevenson and Salem. The Highlanders reached the regional finals in four of his five seasons.
The former minor leaguer, who reached the International Hockey League level with Phoenix, began coaching at Howell courtesy of then-coach Mike Mantua. He remained on staff for two seasons with Eric Hilsel as head coach.
“Mike Mantua asked me if I could help out a little bit,” Johnson said. “I came out and pushed some pucks. I came in to see if what I knew about the game held true. It was. Eric Hilsel wanted to stay there. There wasn't, so it just kind of fell into my lap.”
Although Johnson grew up in the New England area, coaching at Howell felt like home.
“It was an amazing situation,” he said. “The opportunity to be invited into a family, into their home, into their lives, you can't put a price on that. It's such an honor to have the experience of growing boys into men and using hockey as a vehicle. You always learn from your family and your children and about yourself. It was amazing.
Johnson is the second successful Howell winter sports coach to depart in recent weeks, joining men's basketball coach Nick Simon.
Please contact Bill Kahn at wkhan@gannett.com. X Follow him at @BillKhan
