JJ Johnson has been well known in the North Bay area as an assistant hockey trainer with the North Bay Battalion, a longtime head trainer with the Powassan Voodoos of the NOJHL as well as holding a trainer position with the Temiscaming Titans of the GMHL.
He's treated a lot of injured players from managing concussion protocols to treating sprained ankles and shoulders.
The former 2019 Team Canada East trainer is taking his skills from the hockey rink to the therapy room as he officially became a registered Kinesiologist in 2021.
"There really isn’t a large adjustment in terms of going from a hockey trainer to a Kinesiologist," Johnson stated.
"I like to treat both jobs the same, that is that in both I consider myself to be a healthcare provider for my patients and my athletes. When I’m a hockey trainer, I see the same 20-23 'patients' every day, where when I am working at the clinic, I could see several different patients in just one week."
The parallels continue for Johnson who is practicing out of Body Back in Motion located on Main Street West in North Bay.
In fact, he's already treated some of his former players including goaltender Nate McDonald, who just came off hip surgery and will be returning to New York to finish his school year and rejoin his NCAA Division 1 hockey team.
"There are plenty of similarities in both jobs," said Johnson.
"I use my role as a Registered Kinesiologist with the hockey team to conduct fitness assessments, prescribe exercise, and manage and rehabilitate any athletic injuries that my players sustain throughout the season. I do all of this in my role at Body Back in Motion, in addition to running a chronic disease management program and assisting the chiropractors."
Johnson believes hockey is a very good stepping stone for the profession.
"I would give to anyone who wants to follow in my path is don’t follow my exact path," joked Johnson who recently completed his Masters in Science from Nipissing University.
"Everyone’s path is different and figuring out what you want to do with your life sometimes happens when you least expect it."
Johnson believes there is a lot of pressure on teens in high school to figure out exactly what they want to do.
"That to me is so sad," noted the 26-year-old.
"Kids who are 14, 15, 16 years old shouldn’t be stressed out about what courses they want to take in university or college or whether or not they’re choosing the right path.
"Take your time, make the decision that’s best for you and then go for it. Once you find your passion, learn anything and everything there is to know about it and don’t take no for an answer."
