On Wednesday, Blues defenseman Erik Johnson heard the words that he’s been waiting to hear for many months.

After missing the 2008-09 season with a torn ACL in his right knee, he’s finally cleared to return to the ice for all hockey activity.

“I got the final nod,” Johnson said this afternoon. ”I don’t have to make any more visits to the doctor, and I can focus on playing again. Now when people ask me, ‘How’s your knee doing?’ . . . I can say that I’m medically cleared and ready for camp.”

Johnson participated in the Blues’ Pro Orienation Camp last month, but he was kept out of the scrimmage game. Johnson has been on the ice with Al MacInnis and Keith Tkachuk this summer and recently he was one of 4-5 Blues players to spend a week with Craig Woodcroft of Northern Edge Hockey going through hockey drills and conditioning.

“It was unbelievable, the shape we got in in one week,” Johnson said. “We had 150-pound watersleds and we were pulling them behind us on the ice.”

On Aug. 17-18, Johnson will be participating in the U.S. Olympic Men’s Orientation Camp in preparation for the 2010 Winter Game in Vancouver. Johnson will be joined by T.J. Oshie and David Backes at the camp.

“I’m really pumped,” Johnson said. ”Along with winning the Stanley Cup, winning a gold medal has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. Seeing what the 1980 (U.S.) team did, you want to emulate that. I’m definitely looking forward to the chance of making the team.”

Then on Sept. 12, Blues players will report for physicals.

“I’m so pumped,” Johnson said. ”I don’t think anybody is more ready than me. I’ve been training all year for this. Even though the past year stunk because of the injury, I can really say that I learned a lot and benefited from sitting out. I definitely learned a lot about being a professional.”

After a year of waiting, Johnson is ready to go . . .

JR