Mike Hayakawa

When the Stouffville Spirit’s hockey season come to an end last season, it marked the end of Randy Johnston’s era with the Provincial Jr. A Hockey League club.

The 21-year-old captain is one of only two players in the club’s 13-year history to play five years with the organization. J.D. Smithson was the other.

While entertaining thoughts of playing university hockey this fall in Ontario, Johnston received a pro contract offer.

The Newmarket resident will play in Muskegon, Mich., as a member of the Muskegon Fury of the International Hockey League.

“It sure feels good; it definitely takes a load off of my shoulders knowing where I’m going to be playing,” Johnston said.

Compiling 28 goals and 22 assists in just 33 games and battling a concussion last season, Johnston me a representative of the Fury a year ago.

That led to an invitation to a week-long camp the Fury held last month in Muskegon.

Head coach Bruce Ramsay was impressed.

conference-winning goal in 2006

“They liked what they saw of me, took me out for lunch when the camp ended said they would like to have me. About one week later, I signed a contract,” Johnston said.

The contact is for one year and is based on a league salary cap. Terms of the deal were not revealed.

While the club has no affiliation with any National Hockey League teams,

Johnston hopes to parlay his time with the Fury into  something bigger and better down the road.

“I’ve got to get my feet wet somewhere,” he said.

He said he’s free of any concussion symptoms he experienced last year. Just as important, he’s excited with the prospects of joining his new team.

IHL teams have to dress at least three rookies and can only use three forward lines.

“All I want to do is put up some good numbers and try to provide some leadership like I did when I was with the Spirit,” he said.

Johnston, who played briefly with Ottawa and Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League during his junior days, scored the series-clinching goal in overtime to give the Spirit its only North Conference championship in 2006.