As the offspring of a well-traveled professional athlete, Derik Johnson did quite a bit of relocating as a kid. So much so that getting him to list his hometown is hardly a simple exercise (see below).

Johnson, however, is finally beginning to experience some stability in this regard. For the past three years, he has hunkered down in Duluth and like his father, Jim, did a generation ago, spends his fall and winter weekends patrolling the University of Minnesota Duluth blue line.

The oldest member of the 2013-14 Bulldogs (he'll turn 24 next month), Johnson has collected a pair of assists while skating in 13 of the team's 16 games to date. But it's in the defensive zone where he's made perhaps his most significant contributions. Never one to shy from mixing up and throwing his body around,  the Bloomington, Minn. native (that's what he's going with), currently tops the club in blocked shot with 25. Eight of those (a 2013-14 UMD single-game high) were racked up in the Bulldogs' most recent outing -- a 4-3 victory over Western Michigan University on Dec. 14 at AMSOIL Arena.

Johnson and the Bulldogs will return to duty this Friday night to take on the U.S. National Under 18 Team in a home exhibition bout.

HIS FAVORITES
Opponent: North Dakota
Opponent Arena: Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota)
Road Trip: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Professional Athlete: Andrew Ference and Logan Couture
Professional Team: San Jose Sharks
College Course: Intercultural Communication
Pastime: Fishing
Prized Possession: My signed Martin Brodeur game-used stick
Book (Author): Stillpower (Garret Kramer)
Television Show: The Newsroom
Actor/Actress: Jeff Daniels/Mary-Louise Parker
Movie: 180 Degrees South
Singer/Group: Jason Aldean/Casey Donahew Band
Food: Anything Mexican
Restaurant: Sapporo (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and the Bar Harbor (Nisswa, Minn.)
Video Game: Chel
Vacation Spot: Telluride, Colo.
Web Site: www.tsn.ca

PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Why I Chose UMD: I visited Duluth often as a child for the ALS Fishing Tournament and both my parents loved attending school here.
First Played Competitive Hockey: For the Chesapeake Bay Chiefs (Md.) in 1994.
Hockey Strength/Weakness: Playing physical and edgy/My puck skills
Game Day Ritual: I take a nap, eat pasta and arrive early to home games.
Most Memorable UMD Hockey Moment: The 17-game unbeaten streak we strung together two years ago and scoring my first collegiate goal.
Best Player I've Ever Faced: (Former Colorado College forward) Jaden Schwartz
Pet Peeve: Drills without backcheckers.
Biggest Fear: Public speaking at school.
First Job: As a locker room attendant for the Phoenix Coyotes when I was 12.
Person I'd Most Like to Meet: Scotty Bowman
Why I Wear No. 6: My dad wore it at UMD as well as his first six years in the NHL with Pittsburgh.
What Most People Don't Know About Me: I played hockey in Arizona for 12 years
Something I Never Leave Home Without: My phone
If I Could Change One Thing About Myself: I'd have a real hometown.
Sport I'd Like to Try Someday: Short track speed skating
Influences on My Athletic Career: My parents
The Best Thing About College Hockey: Having 25 best buddies every year.
Advice to an Aspiring Young Athlete: If it's not working, it means you're not working hard enough.
Post-UMD Plans: Continue playing hockey and eventually get into coaching.