Kings’ prize is on clock

ANN ARBOR, MICH. —  Jack Johnson, the sleek and fierce defenseman for the University of Michigan, goes over the boards for a third-period shift and the chant trails him onto the ice: “Two more years, two more years, two more years.”

This is senior night, the last regular-season hurrah for six of the Wolverines’ players. Yost Ice Arena is the school’s beloved, 85-year-old brick building that leaks, creaks and is packed with so many hockey-loving freaks that it trembles at times from foot-stomping emotion.

David Rohlfs, a senior, tucks in a backhander for the game-winning goal in the 3-1 victory over Western Michigan. Matt Hunwick sets up the play with a slick pass. Yet another senior moment.

But what has the loud and occasionally vicious student section in a lather is a sophomore: “Two more years, two more years.”

This may be Johnson’s last Hail-to-the-Victors night in Ann Arbor. Students plead for him to stay put, but the woeful Los Angeles Kings, who acquired his rights in a September trade, hope he comes west.

“Last year, they were yelling, ‘Three more years,’ now it’s two,” Johnson said the next day, huddling at Yost as the temperature outside fought its way toward 6, the day’s expected high. “After the game, the seniors [on the team] said I should go out with them to say goodbye. That was funny.”

But California dreamin’, even on such a winter’s day, is on the shelf until his college season ends, which could be as early as next month. His future is clear, however. He became a linchpin in the Kings’ rebuilding process as soon as General Manager Dean Lombardi pried him away from the Carolina Hurricanes.

Johnson is reviled in Canada, in English and French, after last year’s on-ice tete-a-tete with Team Canada’s Steve Downie during the World Junior Championships.

And he is certainly despised in every college town the Wolverines have tromped through; Nebraska-Omaha fans threw pucks at him after a game, he said.

But in Southern California, his arrival is eagerly anticipated. Even Lombardi, try as he might, finds it hard to couch his words.

“To expect him to come in and turn around the franchise, that’s unrealistic and unfair,” Lombardi said.

Still, Lombardi added, “We’re excited about getting our hands on him. There is some work that needs to be done. But, as the old saying goes, I’d rather tame a tiger than try to paint stripes on a kitty cat. He’s a tiger.”

*

Johnson flicked a wrist shot. A second later, the Wolverines’ fans were serenading the Western Michigan goaltender, “It’s all your fault, it’s all your fault.”

Still, hard to blame the guy. A week before, Johnson burned Ferris State for five goals and eight points in two games.

Johnson’s shot is so wicked that one ripped the mask off a Boston College goaltender in a game last season. His eagerness to punish opponents has left him without a pal in Kalamazoo, home of Western Michigan fans, who, like others around the Central Collegiate Hockey Assn., are weary of Johnson’s body of work.

Those skills give Johnson, the third-overall NHL draft pick in 2005, a leading role in Lombardi’s long-term plan. The Kings gave up defenseman Tim Gleason and center Eric Belanger, but only after the Hurricanes failed to lure the 6-foot-1 Johnson away from Michigan family ties; his grandfather played football, basketball and baseball for the Wolverines; his mother also attended the university.

Hollywood, though, may be a bit more tempting than Tobacco Road, even if the Hurricanes are the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Johnson’s star appeal could mesh for a perfect L.A. story.

* He and Pittsburgh Penguins’ wunderkind Sidney Crosby remain close, a continuation of the friendship carved out as teammates at Shattuck St. Mary’s, a Minnesota prep school.

* The King of Sweden’s son requested an audience with Johnson at this year’s World Junior Championships.

* Johnson spent the summer working out in the weight room with Olympic gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps.

Johnson has the hockey ability to go along with that A-list crowd.

“The first time we put Jack on the ice was when he was 4, and he stood up and just started skating,” said Tina Johnson, his mother. “He didn’t fall, he didn’t wobble. He just skated to the other end of the rink.”

Just three years later, Johnson announced his plans.

“We were riding home after a game and he said, ‘I’ve decided to be a defenseman,’ ” said Jack Johnson Sr., his father.

That dream was upgraded to NHL defenseman when Johnson went to the National Select 15 Festival in St. Cloud, Minn.

“That was the first time I played against the best guys in my age group,” Johnson said. “I was nervous and didn’t know how good the rest of the players were around the U.S. I pretty much did whatever I wanted to do. I started thinking, ‘I got a future in this.’ ”

Johnson has continued to grow, in ability and confidence.

Team USA was heading into a shootout against Canada at this year’s World Juniors, and Coach Ron Rolston began choosing the shooters: “OK, we’ll have Pat Kane, Peter Mueller and ... “

” ... and me,” Johnson finished.

Johnson scored two goals in the shootout, delaying elimination awhile before Canada finally won.

“Potentially, he is awesome,” said Barry Melrose, ESPN hockey analyst and former Kings coach. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of great potential stars in hockey and have learned to wait and see. But this kid has everything. What I love is he’s not just skilled, he’s mean and nasty too.”

*

Johnson took the ice in the first period against Western Michigan and Wolverines fans were ready: “Kill Jack, kill. Kill Jack, kill.”

“It is flattering,” Johnson said, “and I try not to disappoint them.”

Johnson possesses a lethal combination of speed-skater velocity and Rhino-like ferocity. He introduced that to opponents in the third game of his freshman season, littering the ice with Boston College players.

Still, Johnson has shown he is more than a Michigoon, as one Nebraska-Omaha fan website called him. He has 14 goals and 29 points in 29 games this season.

“In raw ability, he’s as good as anybody we have had,” said Michigan Coach Red Berenson, who has 19 former players in the NHL.

Still, this is a work in progress.

Johnson has significantly reduced his penalty minutes, a problem last season, Berenson said, and he is less likely to get lost up ice.

“Last year, I’d run around trying to cover everyone and do everything,” Johnson said. “I’ve learned to do my job, handle my responsibilities.”

Yet, he retains the nastiness that had Canada seething a year ago. After swinging an elbow at Downie in a World Junior Championship round-robin game in Vancouver, Johnson seemed to be the most hated American to set foot on Canadian soil since the War of 1812.

The feud was on. Downie later said the two would meet again in the NHL. Johnson responded with a bring-it-on statement. Canadian fans, meanwhile, booed and hurled insults, something that continued at this year’s World Juniors in Sweden.

“What was funny was Kenny, our other son, was playing video games with kids from Canada and when they found out he was Jack’s brother, they all wanted to know if he could get them an autograph,” Tina Johnson said.

“So they would get Jack to sign their jerseys downstairs, then go upstairs and boo him.”

Said Johnson: “I can’t wait for my first [NHL] game in Vancouver. It’ll be a letdown if fans remain silent.”

*

It was half an hour before the game and Michigan students were taunting Western Michigan players during warmups: “Ugly goalie, ugly goalie.”

Jack Johnson Sr. was already sitting behind the Wolverines bench, the proud parent, smiling, talking with other fans.

“You know, when Jack is ready for the NHL, he’ll let us know,” Johnson said.

People in Ann Arbor hope it’s not yet.

A Michigan student approached and begged, “Mr. Johnson, you have to keep Jack here. Two more years, two more years.”

chris.foster@latimes.com