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Ryan Johnston had a simple plan when he showed up at the Canadiens development camp in July.

The 23-year-old defenceman was heading back to Colgate University for his senior year, but was hoping to make enough of an impression that he would get a chance to try out for the Canadiens when he graduated.

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“I went to the New Jersey development camp the previous summer and Scott Masters, who is the Canadiens’ college scout, started talking to me and I couldn’t pass up the chance to attend the Canadiens camp,” Johnston said.

“I had a pretty good camp and Scott talked to me and then I talked to (assistant general manager Larry Carrière) and two days later they offered me a contract.”

It was a two-year, entry-level deal and Johnston decided to accept it and put his pursuit of a geology degree on hold.

Johnston grew up in a hockey-playing family in Sudbury, Ont., and decided to go the Tier II and U.S. college route, following in the path of his four older siblings. In addition to being a family tradition, it was a question of size.