Koch SUPERU – Change the Way You Grow
Dave Leaderhouse
Last year was a disappointment for the Melville Millionaires in so many ways, but one bright spot that did emerge was the play of forward Jonathan Krahn.
Acquired from the British Columbia Hockey League’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks just as the season was getting under way, the Chilliwack, B.C., product accumulated 24 points in 40 games with the Millionaires.
The early dividends this year for the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Krahn look to be even more impressive as the 19-year-old forward has four goals in four games to help Melville jump into the early lead of the Viterra Division standings.
Krahn spent his final year of midget eligibility playing Junior “A” with Salmon Arm and in 50 games notched four goals while adding four assists. Prior to his time with the Silverbacks, Krahn spent two seasons with Yale Academy in Abbottsford, B.C., where he had 22 points in 33 games with the prep squad as a 16-year-old and 11 points in 29 games with the Elite 15 team.
The Millionaires, obviously, are more than pleased with the return they got for a player development fee just over a year ago. “Jonathan is a strong skater – one of the fastest in the SJHL. Strong overall hockey sense allows him to play a strong two-way game. He is a very dedicated student of the game and very coachable,” says the club in assessing Krahn’s abilities.
With personal goals of being a consistent and reliable 200-foot player, which he hopes translates into a Division 1 scholarship opportunity, Krahn is expected to play a big role in helping the Millionaires return to the post-season for the first time in three years. With another year of junior eligibility remaining after this year, he is a nice building block for a team looking to get back on track.
