Sheffield Steelers coaching role strengthens Aaron Johnson’s love for the game

The longer the time out, the more peripheral the player becomes as their recovery schedule means they see little of their team-mates on match days, or even during the week as they are required to follow different training routines.

For Aaron Johnson, however, the new role of player-assistant coach he accepted last summer under Sheffield Steelers’ new boss Aaron Fix meant that, despite him being unable to contribute out on the ice, he was still very much in the thick of things. Twice Johnson suffered lengthy spells on the sidelines, breaking the same finger twice, a freak combination which limited him to just 23 games during the 2019-20 campaign.

It was a campaign which, like many other sports, was brought to a premature conclusion due to the coronavirus pandemic, although not before the Steelers had lifted what turned out to be the only piece of silverware on offer when they beat Cardiff Devils to end a 17-year wait for the Challenge Cup.

Like every Steelers’ player on that Sunday afternoon at the Viola Arena back in early March, Johnson played a key role in the 4-3 victory over the Devils, the 37-year-old defenceman having already served up a reminder of his importance after returning from injury for a second time in mid-January.

But, while his extended absence from the roster was a source of frustration, Johnson was glad to be able to aid the cause in another way, working behind the bench with Fox and assistant Carter Beston-Will.

The dual role is something he is keen to reprise next season in South Yorkshire but one which, like everything else in the world of hockey, is very much up in the air given the ongoing uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19.

“It was great to be involved that way,” said Johnson, a third round NHL draft pick for the Columbus Blue Jackets and who went on to play 291 games in the world’s top league. “I’ve talked to players who have gone on to the coaching side and remember them saying it is the closest thing to playing in the competitive sense and they were exactly right.

“The hardest thing when you are injured is you feel like you are away from the team and you are losing touch with the guys because, while you may still be at the rink, you’re working on different things.

“But the coaching aspect of my role allowed me to stay involved and retain that competitive edge each day – it was a great opportunity without there being too much pressure, to be honest.

“The expectation wasn’t to be a coach first and player second, it was the other way around and it was good to learn from Foxy and be in those game situations, making different choices.”

For someone who has already spent 17 years as a professional, it should come as no surprise that his first taste of coaching has only strengthened his desire to remain in the game as long as possible.

“Just getting this experience is key for me,” added Johnson. “I don’t want to jump into a situation where I am over my head. I want to make sure I am learning and gaining valuable experience.

“Right now, yes, I want to continue playing but I’ve always said I want to stay in hockey. Whether that be on the management side or the coaching side, who knows, but this experience has definitely answered my question as to whether I want to stay around the game or not.

“Of that, there is no question – just being around the guys, the day-to-day, the effort you have to put in, the competition – it’s just something I couldn’t live without and it isn’t something I could leave behind easily.”

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