Now he's working full-time with Hockey NSW and he's loving every minute of it.

Johnstone has taken on the role of Regional Participation Coordinator (RPC), covering the towns of Parkes, Dubbo, Orange, Cowra, Bathurst, Lithgow and Mudgee, and everywhere in between.

The job involves promoting and developing the sport, working alongside all the hockey associations in these areas and supporting them with anything from participation and competitions to school programs and gala days.

"I'm their Hockey NSW contact," Johnstone said.

"I run all the participation and development programs like the Under 12 NSW Pride camps and the Centre of Development (COD) program.

"We have primary school gala days coming up with all the schools, which are fun days for students where they learn new skills."

The gala days all start from February 22, with Orange hosting the first and Mudgee the next event on March 3.

Parkes' primary school gala day will take place at the Parkes Hockey Fields on March 10, following with Bathurst on March 12, Dubbo March 17, Lithgow March 19, Cowra March 24 and Molong March 31.

After four years of directing junior hockey in Parkes with wife Cherie - a role the pair have just stepped down from to allow someone new to get involved - Johnstone is certainly no stranger to this line of work.

Though his coverage area is a lot larger this time.

But he said he has the support of a great team at Hockey NSW.

Johnstone started in the new position full-time on January 1 after being contracted part-time at Hockey NSW over the last 12 months.

"I'm loving it, it's a broader and more challenging role than just playing and coaching, and there are still new learnings for me," he said.

"I've been involved in hockey since I was four years old, now I'm working in that industry, it's fantastic.

"Hockey NSW's big goal this year is to return to as much normality as possible and to get people back into hockey."

Johnstone's own focus is on getting families back into playing hockey and kids outside doing sport, especially hockey.

"My dad still plays hockey and he's in his late 70s, and I've played with all three of my sons - hockey is a family sport," he said.

"The whole family can be involved."

Parkes' local hockey competitions are all set to return at the end of March and come July, the town is hosting another of the state's biggest championships, the Under 13 Boys State Championships.