PENSACOLA, FL – Ice Flyers fan-favorite wingman Malik Johnson brought home a much-needed win for Pensacola against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs on Friday Jan. 27.
Pro Hockey News caught up with Johnson after the 3-2 overtime victory in Roanoke and asked him to share a little about his athletic journey and about how the Pensacola community has been so particularly supportive this season.
“I played many sports growing up,” recalled Malik. “In high school I played soccer, basketball, and football for my school. I also ran track, played city soccer, and hockey 12 months a year. I was the Provincial champion in the 60 meters,150 meters, and 60-meter hurdles when I was 11 years old. When I was 12, I played in an international tournament in France competing against the best 12-year-olds in the world. At 15, I placed 7th in the 100 meters at Nationals in Ottawa.”
But Malik’s passion was always hockey.
“I had a childhood filled to the max with sports,” said Johnson. “I also had my dad (Brian Johnson) training and coaching me, so I was pretty much under his watchful eyes and kept out of mischief. With the support of my parents, my siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles, it pushed me to work harder.”
Johnson’s parents were in Pensacola visiting on January 20 to see Malik make an incredible assist in the second period, ripping across the crease and then reversing the puck behind his back to fire on Havoc netminder Matt Petizian, sprawling him out on the ice. Pensacola’s Lucas Hermann picked up the rebound for the goal.
“He’s a good kid,” said Annmarie Johnson. “He’s always so polite. Growing up he played many sports and was especially involved in track and field.”
Johnson has had no shortage of on-ice sparring this season, and a few of his bouts have created significant momentum changes for the Ice Flyers. We asked Malik about how it feels to be a fan favorite.
“The support from the fans has been incredible,” said Malik when asked how it feels to be such a hit with the fans. “Not just through this losing streak, but from when I landed here in Pensacola. We really have something special here. I truly believe we have the best fans in the league. When I was injured at the beginning of the season, I really got to know some fans on a personal level. I had a chance to interact a bit more than usual and I can tell you that the level of support I received as I recovered was incredible. Having set attendance records during this time is a true testament of their commitment to the Ice Flyers. I think I can speak for everyone in the room that we obviously play to win and bring home a championship, but we’re extremely conscious of the fact that we owe our fans a lot because they keep coming out to cheer and see us play.”
Photos provided by PHN Photojournalist William Kober
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