JOHNSTOWN — It's not often that a goaltender gets a chance to score.

But Scott Van Horn managed to do it.

The Seneca Valley High School junior was introduced as the Johnstown Jets' first signee at a press conference Thursday at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

The Jets are an expansion team that will begin play in the United Junior Hockey League this September.

The league's players range in age from 18-22 years old.

Van Horn will forgo his senior year at Seneca Valley, but will receive a diploma after taking classes online starting in August.

"I'll be able to finish faster because the classes are self-paced," he said.

Van Horn, who began playing for SV's varsity team his sophomore season, is currently searching for an apartment in or near Johnstown.

It's a big move for a high school student, but one Van Horn is ready to make, considering his goal.

"I'm hoping this leads to a Division I college scholarship," he said.

Van Horn was given a tour of the renovated arena where he hopes to make many saves this fall.

"I toured the locker rooms, the whole facility," he said. "At the press conference, that was the first time I ever had a camera right in front of my face like that. That was different."

Van Horn has also honed his skills with three Midget League teams — the Pittsburgh Huskies, Armstrong Arrows and Butler Valley Dawgs.

He was first confronted with the possibility of playing for the Jets after competing in the Canadien Hockey Enterprise Tournament last June at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon.

"My first impression of Scott was that he had a very deliberate style," said Jets' general manager Eric Crouse. "He kind of reminded me of a Pittsburgh Penguins goalie of the mid-90s, Patrick Lalime. He has that hybrid style, in-between being a butterfly and stand-up goalie."

Johnstown is also home to the Johnstown Chiefs, a mid-level professional team that competes in the ECHL.

"We are not looking to compete with the Chiefs," said Crouse. "We are just hoping to find our own niche in the city.

"The hockey fans in Johnstown are a rabid group of fans," he added. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback."

The Jets' season will include 52 regular season games played from September through March.

The team's next order of business is to find Van Horn some teammates.

"We plan to get the nucleus of our team from western Pennsylvania," said Crouse. "Butler, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Indiana, Cambria and Blair counties.

"We plan on having three goalies, including Scott, on the roster by the time practice starts in August."

That's when Van Horn will get his chance to win the starting job.

"If I don't begin the season as the starter, I'll just keep working to prove myself," said Van Horn. "And I'm willing to do it if that's what it takes."

The UJHL includes teams in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"The league is fast-paced and physical," said Crouse. "There are players who have gone on from our league to play in the ECHL."

Van Horn will be physically ready for the challenge.

"This summer, I plan on doing a lot of off-ice training," he said. "I want to get bigger, faster and stronger."