Doug Johnson speaking with his former Hawks players during a game. (File Photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

New Job Opportunity

Former Hawks’ bench boss lands role with Melville Millionaires

Jun 7, 2023 | 3:10 PM

People in northeast Saskatchewan may recognize the new bench boss for the Melville Millionaires.

The team announced on Tuesday that they had hired Doug Johnson to be their next head coach and general manager.

He previously spent over 11 years with Nipawin Hawks, helping the team to a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) championship in 2018. He was let go in the middle of the 2021/22 season.

Johnson told northeastNOW the community will always be a special place for him.

“It’s where my kids were born, it’s where I met my partner and where her family’s from, it’s where I developed some life-long relationships.”

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He and his family still live in Nipawin; however, the plan is to move to Melville in the near future. Johnson explained this was a tough decision, but something his entire family could get behind.

“Melville is a great fit for the family, it’s somewhere where the family is willing and wants to go,” he said.

Johnson spent last year coaching the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Blizzard, based in The Pas, in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). He said his experience with the team was great and he enjoyed his time in the neighbouring province.

“There were a lot of places in Manitoba that I really liked… The Pas, OCN just wasn’t going to be a fit for my family,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SJHL hasn’t released the schedule for the 2023/24 season at this time.

Johnson noted his first trip back to Nipawin will be something he’ll look forward to.

“I don’t get too emotional over things, but it’ll be nice to see friends and family,” he said.

When asked if the family would join him, Johnson joked that it depended on what day the game lands on.

“We’ll see, it’ll probably be a Tuesday night and the kids will have school.”

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow