Senior captain Brody Josselyn has helped ease transition for new Century/John Marshall hockey co-op
Dec. 28—Josh Klingfus could see signs of what Brody Josselyn could — and has — become two years ago.
Josselyn stepped right into the lineup for the Century boys hockey team in the 2021-22 season and contributed quietly as a sophomore on a team that had a standout defensive corps, led by then-senior Matt Haun.
"He has great skill," Klingfus, the Panthers' head coach, said of Josselyn, "but the biggest thing I've always liked about Brody, with our team, is he's very poised. He has a lot of poise to his game. He keeps everybody calm, keeps everything very even-keeled.
"I like that because there are going to be lots of ups and downs in a game. Brody keeps everybody kind of content or calm, and working hard."
Josselyn's team-first, lead-by-example approach hasn't gone unnoticed.
His demeanor and ability to serve as another coach on the ice for the Panthers helped him earn a "C" on his jersey this winter as the captain of the first-ever Century/John Marshall co-op team. More than a half-dozen players from JM — with two of them, forwards Ole Fevold and Brock Clarey playing significant roles on the varsity — have combined this winter with Century to form a team that was 9-1-0 heading into their second game at the Kiwanis Festival on Thursday night, against Fargo (N.D.) South/Shanley.
Josselyn said the transition from rivals to teammates for the Panthers and Rockets — who are all now officially Century/JM Panthers — was smooth and mostly seamless, starting with bonding time in summer workouts.
"They're all new guys (to the program), but we've played with all of them our whole lives," Josselyn said, noting he played with Clarey and Fevold in youth hockey. "It didn't (take us long to jell). That connection is already there from youth hockey."
Josselyn's role on the ice for this year's talented Panthers team has been relatively simple and straightforward: Take what's in front of you, make the simple plays, get the puck to the team's skilled forwards and let them go to work.
And, pick your spots to be a vocal leader.
"He says something when he needs to say something," Klingfus said. "He finds an appropriate time, he's very good at that. He just keeps things even-keel and helps everyone keep their composure."
Matt Erredge, who coached at JM for more than a decade before joining the Century/JM staff this year when the programs merged, said he knew Josselyn was a good player when the Rockets went against him over the past two years, but Erredge has learned quickly just how much Josselyn means to the team and the program.
"He's been great for us this year," Erredge said in mid-December. "Great defenseman, great kid and leader."
Josselyn isn't just a stay-at-home defenseman. He has some "slippery" to his game, the ability to make a strong breakout pass or to carry the puck through the neutral zone and get it deep in the offensive end. He also has become adept at picking his spots to create offense. Josselyn leads the Century/JM defensive corps in scoring this season (3-8 — 11) and entered this week with 40 career points, including 31 assists.
He said being named a team captain is one of the highlights of his high school career so far.
"It means a lot to lead this team," he said. "It's a good team, too. Growing up, I always wanted to be able to do that ... and we're good this year, so it's been fun."
Klingfus has seen Josselyn mature as a person and a player for more than two years and he said he couldn't be happier than to see his standout defenseman be a captain on a team that has set big goals for itself.
"Brody hasn't ever really talked as much as he does now, but that was just because it wasn't really his role at that time," Klingfus said. "He's listened and learned how to be a great leader and that's what he's turned into for us — a great leader, on and off the ice."
