The last time Patrick Johnson stepped on the scale, it read 152 pounds and he was fully clothed.

"Probably three, four pounds there," he said, acknowledging that his weight, as suspected, is south of a buck 50.

So let the record show that Johnson, the 5-foot-9 freshman right winger for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team, is no heavyweight on the ice. In fact, Johnson is the scrawniest guy in the UW dressing room by a long shot.

"I'm a little guy, but I act like I'm 6-4," Johnson said. "I just try to get in there, running my mouth, which I do a lot sometimes and probably shouldn't."

Many who have watched the 10th-ranked Badgers this season are surprised that Johnson has been so durable and effective.

Going into a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with No. 11 Minnesota State-Mankato tonight and Saturday night at the Kohl Center, he has played in all 30 games, totaling six goals, 12 assists and 18 points, which ranks fourth on the team and fourth among freshmen in the league.

His plus-10 rating leads UW forwards and is second on the team behind defenseman Jamie McBain (plus-12). UW coach Mike Eaves was among those who wondered if the 18-year-old Johnson — one of the youngest players on the youngest team in the WCHA — would be able to hold up.

On one hand, Eaves said Johnson's anticipation and athleticism allows him to avoid big hits.

"But I don't think I realized how hard (Johnson) played at the weight that he does play at," Eaves said.

Take that reality, mix in the fact Johnson relishes the physical part of the game and loves to chirp at opposing players, and you have another reason why some have wondered about his survival.

In the season opener against Notre Dame, Johnson took exception to freshman center Kyle Turris being hassled along the boards. It led to a verbal exchange between Johnson and 6-foot, 201-pound defenseman Teddy Ruth.

In a WCHA game against North Dakota in November, a witness said Johnson told 6-7, 245-pound defenseman Joe Finley that he was going to "own" him.

Last Saturday, Johnson had a problem with roommate and fellow rookie Podge Turnbull getting blatantly checked from behind by Michigan Tech defenseman John Schwarz. Johnson popped Schwarz, listed at 6-3, 210, after the whistle and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Eaves sat Johnson on the bench for multiple shifts after that, imparting a lesson as a result.

"Got a use your head a little bit there," Johnson said. "There's times to go in and there's times to not, and that wasn't the time."

Johnson said growing up with two older brothers — their father is UW women's coach Mark Johnson — planted seeds of annoyance and resistance.

"I got tossed around by my brothers," Patrick said of Doug and Chris. "They gave me some crap, but I gave it right back. I think that's the way I am because of those two."

UW junior center and assistant captain Ben Street said there are times "it boggles my mind" to see how Patrick Johnson goes about his business on the ice.

"I'm not sure if he's crazy or if he thinks he's really tough," Street said.

Turns out, Johnson doesn't have a death wish as much as he has a plan when he challenges opposing players.

"He's effective when he does it because the guys do get mad," Street said. "He's so small, they kind of feel bad, I think, to go after him.

"It's a lose-lose for the other guy. He's either getting picked on and not sticking up for himself, or it looks like he's picking on the smallest guy on the other team."

Of course, Johnson knows this.

"That's what I like about my game," he said. "I'm small and people don't think I can do much, which I love to prove them wrong."