A Rising Star's Journey
Chase Johnston, a 15‑year‑old hockey prodigy from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, recently traveled to Amherst, New York, to take part in the USA Hockey 15U National Development Camp — a prestigious gateway for the nation’s most promising youngsters.
His path to the camp was anything but straightforward. It began with a CCM High Performance tryout, after which the top talents from Minnesota’s twelve districts were narrowed to a field of 102 at a festival held on the campus of the University of St. Thomas. Those 102 then attended an intensive camp in St. Paul before the elite subset earned a spot at the national camp in Amherst.
Johnston admits he didn’t deliver his best performance at the St. Thomas stop, yet the coaches saw enough potential to extend an invitation to the national camp, where he joined roughly a hundred of the country’s best 15‑year‑olds.
The week‑long program blended on‑ice skill work with off‑ice sessions that included film analysis and seminars on social media etiquette, bullying prevention, and mental‑health awareness. For Johnston, the educational components proved as valuable as the drills, offering new perspectives on preparation and personal development.
Beyond the camp, his dedication is evident in a training regimen that leaves little room for rest. Luke Johnston, his father, has repeatedly praised his son’s work ethic, noting that Chase continues to hit the gym and the rink even when a break would be understandable. As a result, junior hockey programs across the country are beginning to scout him seriously.
While the national stage has brought attention, Johnston remains focused on the next steps in his hockey journey, aiming to translate the camp’s lessons into tangible growth on the ice.