Ben Johnson (ice hockey)

Last updated

Ben Johnson
Born (1994-06-07) June 7, 1994 (age 29)
Calumet, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
Tipos Extraliga team
Former teams
HC Nové Zámky
Albany Devils
NHL Draft 90th overall, 2012
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2014present

Benjamin Johnson (born June 7, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey player.

Contents

He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 3rd round (90th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. [1]

Playing career

Amateur

Johnson attended Calumet High School in Calumet, Michigan where he played on the high school hockey team. He was recognized for his outstanding play during the 2010–11 season when he was named Michigan's Mr. Hockey as the Top High School Player in Michigan, becoming only the second junior to win the award (Justin Abdelkader won the award as a junior in 2004). [2]

With the 2011–12 season, Johnson joined the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Playing three seasons of major junior hockey with the Spitfires, Johnson scored 66 goals and 62 assists for 128 points, while earning 106 penalty minutes, in 191 games played.

Professional

On April 3, 2014, Johnson signed an amateur tryout contract with the Albany Devils, [3] and played five games with the AHL team near the end of the 2013–14 season. On May 20, 2014, the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League signed Johnson to a three-year entry-level contract. [4]

On December 7, 2018, having served his prison sentence, Johnson resumed his professional career during the 2018–19 season, signing a contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. [5]

Following a two-season stint with the Cyclones, Johnson sat out for the COVID-19 pandemic affected 2020–21 season. He made his return to the ECHL during the 2021–22 season, agreeing to a contract with the Kansas City Mavericks on December 5, 2021. [6]

Sexual assault conviction

In March 2013, Johnson was charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with two separate incidents that allegedly took place in Windsor. The first occurred against a 16-year-old girl in the washroom of Mynt nightclub during the Spitfires' end of season St. Patrick's Day party. Johnson forced her to perform oral sex in a bathroom stall while she was intoxicated before he raped her, causing vaginal bleeding. [7] [8] During the course of the investigation, a second woman, aged 20, came forward and told police that she had also been sexually assaulted by Johnson in the washroom of a second bar weeks prior. [9] He was found guilty on September 1, 2016, of the charge related to events at the Mynt nightclub. [10] That same day, the Devils initiated the process to terminate Johnson's contract. [11] On October 25, 2016, he was sentenced to a 3-year prison term for the sexual assault. [12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 Calumet High USHS3037407712
2010–11 Fargo Force USHL 50002
2010–11 U.S. National Development Team USHL21010
2011–12 Windsor Spitfires OHL 681820384440220
2012–13 Windsor SpitfiresOHL6420173732
2013–14 Windsor SpitfiresOHL592825533044262
2013–14 Albany Devils AHL 50110
2014–15 Albany DevilsAHL281128
2014–15 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 12268042240
2015–16 Albany DevilsAHL165276
2015–16 Adirondack Thunder ECHL1333661225720
2016–17Did not play
2017–18Did not play
2018–19 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL4410182829113146
2019–20 Cincinnati CyclonesECHL6021315249
2020–21Did not play
2021–22 Kansas City Mavericks ECHL5324254937
2022–23 HC Nové Zámky Slovak501525404852352
AHL totals49641014

Awards and honors

AwardsYear
Michigan Mr. Hockey - Top High School Player in Michigan2011 [13]

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References

  1. "Statement regarding minor-league forward Ben Johnson". New Jersey Devils. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  2. "Ben Johnson commits to Windsor Spitfires". Ontario Hockey League. April 3, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  3. "Devils 2012 third round pick, Ben Johnson joins Albany on ATO". northjersey.com. April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  4. "A deal with the Devils". blackburnnews.com. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  5. "Cyclones make trio of moves". Cincinnati Cyclones. December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  6. ECHL (December 5, 2021). "Player signing by Mavericks". Twitter . Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  7. Devils prospect Ben Johnson found guilty of sexual assault | NJ.com
  8. Sacheli, Sarah (November 22, 2017). "Ex-Spitfire Ben Johnson loses appeal on sexual assault conviction | Windsor Star". Windsor Star. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  9. "Teen charged with sexual assault at nightclub". Windsor Star . March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 21, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  10. "NHL prospect Ben Johnson found guilty of sexual assault". Toronto Sun . September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  11. "Devils prospect Johnson found guilty of sexual assault". The Sports Network. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  12. "Former Spitfire Ben Johnson sentenced to 3-years in prison". CTV News. October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  13. "Michigan Mr Hockey archives". peschstats.com. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.