Rising to the challenge: Austin goalie lands on Team Minnesota U15 – Austin Daily Herald

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Austin sophomore Tait Johnson will represent Minnesota 15U in Pittsburgh in September. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin goalie Tait Johnson stops a shot in practice last week. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin sophomore Tait Johnson’s game is starting to catch up with his size as he’s been busy on the ice this summer.

Johnson, a 6-foot, 4-inch tall goalie, has earned himself a spot on Team Minnesota 15U for the USHL Fall Classic in Pittsburgh in September.

Johnson made the team in a four-phase tryout against 24 of the top goalies his age in the state that included stops in Plymouth and St. Cloud. He was one of four selected goalies to be part of the two Minnesota teams that will compete in the Classic.

“It was pretty difficult. A lot of the top tier goalies go to these tryouts and all the hard work paid off for me,” Johnson said. “This is a huge step to get your name out there.”

Johnson’s height makes him a prospect in the net and he’s only gotten better at using it to his advantage. At a team summer team practice in Riverside Arena last week, he was making consistent stops on juniors and seniors during a shooting drill.

“Back when I was in middle school, I wasn’t as tall,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to get used to it and being on the ice every day helps a lot. You learn what you can and can’t do. I’ve matured a lot, hanging with these boys. I’ve seen how hard they work in practice and it’s rubbed off on me to work harder. I try to match their work ethic.”

Last season, Johnson was the back-up goalie for the Packer boys hockey team as he went 9-2 overall with a save percentage of 91.9 while recording one shutout. Johnson learned plenty of lessons playing behind Daran Punkett as the Packers enjoyed their winningest season in over a decade.

“Daran Plunkett helped me a lot, because he had four years of varsity experience,” Johnson said. “He told me what to work on and I learned from him.”

Playing goalie is a high pressure position and Johnson is learning what kind of focus it takes to handle himself in the net. He’ll learn even more about his potential when he plays in Pittsburgh in the fall. The Classic will include teams from all around the country.

“You just stay dialed in, don’t worry about anything else, and just play your game,” Johnson said. “You have to be able to handle pressure and not worry about the people watching you play.”

Johnson is hoping his successful summer can carry over to the regular season when the Packers take the ice this fall.

“I’m looking forward to the season in the fall,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we can win a lot of games and I can be a big part of it.”