Jumping from Big 10 hockey to the SMJHL was actually pretty smooth, at least for Darnell. Transitioning for him was less focused on adapting to new tactics and faster play and more about physically bulking up and getting some better skating legs under him. No doubt, being a stay at home defenseman let him hide some of those weaknesses early on. Working with the coaching staff in Anchorage was a pleasant experience, too, and he instantly fit in with their draft class. There was even another defenseman named Johnson! How often must that happen? The hardest part of the transition was probably the move to Anchorage and adapting to the climate there. Going from St Pete to South Bend every few months had been manageable, but the trip to and from Alaska was much harder to prepare for, and he was much less able to jump on a plane and fly home when he liked. Also, the climate? Fuck that.