Larry Johnston

Last updated
Larry Johnston
Born (1943-07-20) July 20, 1943 (age 80)
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for NHL
Los Angeles Kings
Detroit Red Wings
Kansas City Scouts
Colorado Rockies
WHA
Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades
Playing career 19631977

Larry Stuart Roy Johnston (born July 20, 1943) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for over 14 years in seven different hockey leagues. He spent the most time with the Springfield Indians/Kings of the American Hockey League and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, where he served a short term as captain.

Contents

Playing career

Minor league hockey

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Johnston in 1965. Johnston had spent the previous two seasons playing for the Johnstown Jets of the EHL and the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League (CHL). Johnston was traded to the American Hockey League's Springfield Indians for Bruce Gamble.[ citation needed ] The hockey club was purchased by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and renamed the Springfield Kings. In the 1967–68 season he made four appearances with the Los Angeles Kings, picking up four penalty minutes and a −7 plus/minus rating. He wouldn't reach the NHL again for three more seasons.

In 1969, he was named the most valuable player in Springfield and also led the AHL in penalty minutes in 1968 and 1969. With his increased value, Johnston was traded by Los Angeles to the Detroit Red Wings along with Dale Rolfe and Gary Croteau for Garry Monahan, Brian Gibbons and Matt Ravlich on February 20, 1970. He started in the CHL with the Fort Worth Wings before quickly moving back up to the AHL with the Baltimore Clippers.

Reaching the NHL

The following season, Johnston played 12 games with the Tidewater Wings of the AHL before he was brought up to the Detroit Red Wings to finish out the 1971–72 season. After ten seasons in the minor leagues, Johnston finally found his place in the NHL with Detroit. He would finish his first season with a +20 rating, 24 points and 111 penalty minutes. He was a bright spot on a team that was losing its direction after the Stanley Cup-winning seasons of the 1950s. He played three seasons in Detroit before signing with the Michigan Stags of the WHA in July 1974 and played there until a rash of injuries shut him down. The Stags transferred to Baltimore during the 1974–75 season becoming the Baltimore Blades.

According to the book Icing On The Plains: The Rough Ride of Kansas City's NHL Scouts (pp. 137–138, Troy Treasure, Balboa Press), when the Michigan franchise moved to Baltimore to be operated by the WHA, Johnston claimed the league failed to properly abide by the terms of his contract. The WHA countered Johnston was not putting forth proper effort on the ice.

"Johnston didn't want to play here and he wasn't performing up to expectations," Blades executive director Skip Feldman told the Kansas City Star. "He was just going through the motions. His release was by mutual agreement." According to published reports, Johnston's agent Bob Wolfe told Baltimore media his client had effectively bought out the remainder of his contract for what he was owed for the rest of the season.

The Kansas City Scouts acquired Johnston on March 1, 1975, in exchange for an undetermined amount of cash to add muscle and organization to their young defence. Johnston signed for the remainder of the 1974–75 season and the following year. Johnston had one full season with Kansas City in 1975–76 before the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado, as the Colorado Rockies. Johnston suited up for 25 games in the 1976–77 season, which were his last in the NHL.

Johnston played the remainder of that season for the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League and retired in 1977.

Career statistics

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1962–63 Waterloo Siskins CJHL
1963–64 Johnstown Jets EHL 71739463561035850
1964–65 Tulsa Oilers CPHL 57416202621204441
1965–66 Springfield Indians AHL 2925758
1965–66 Tulsa OilersCPHL362681291022426
1966–67 Springfield IndiansAHL594141893
1967–68 Los Angeles Kings NHL 40004
1967–68 Springfield IndiansAHL6022224197402222
1968–69 Springfield IndiansAHL7432124240
1969–70 Springfield IndiansAHL5232427150
1969–70 Fort Worth Wings CHL131016070117
1970–71 Baltimore Clippers AHL5821416198601112
1971–72 Detroit Red Wings NHL6542024111
1971–72 Tidewater Wings AHL1211245
1972–73 Detroit Red WingsNHL7311213169
1973–74 Detroit Red WingsNHL6521214139
1974–75 Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades WHA 4909993
1974–75 Kansas City Scouts NHL1607710
1975–76 Kansas City ScoutsNHL7221012112
1976–77 Colorado Rockies NHL2503335
1976–77 Maine Nordiques NAHL 514222662
AHL totals344171011189811003334
NHL totals32096473580

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Legace</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Emmanuel Legace is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender, who played most notably in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, and later the St. Louis Blues between 1998 and 2010. Legace also enjoyed spells with the Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, and Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL. He finished his playing career for the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, for whom he is the career leader in goaltending wins. Legace is the former goaltending coach for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Melrose</span> Canadian-American broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player

Barry James Melrose is a Canadian–American broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player and head coach. Melrose played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and National Hockey League (NHL). After retiring from playing, he became a head coach and is best known for being the coach of the Los Angeles Kings in their run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals. He is a long-time commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN and contributor for the NHL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cincinnati Mighty Ducks</span> Ice hockey team

The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were a professional ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were members of the American Hockey League, and played their home games at the Cincinnati Gardens. Throughout their existence they were the primary minor league affiliate of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim of the National Hockey League, with a three-year shared affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Sharks</span> Former ice hockey team of the World Hockey Association

The Los Angeles Sharks were an ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1974. Their primary home arena was the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena but they sometimes played at the Long Beach Sports Arena when the Sports Arena had other contractual obligations. After the 1973–74 season, the franchise moved to Detroit to become the Michigan Stags and again mid-season to Baltimore to become the Baltimore Blades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Stags</span> Sports team

The Michigan Stags were a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit that played a portion of the 1974–75 season in the World Hockey Association. On January 18, 1975, the team folded, but the league immediately took over operation and moved the franchise to Baltimore where it was known as the Baltimore Blades. The Stags originated as the Los Angeles Aces, but were renamed the Los Angeles Sharks before their first game, one of the WHA's original twelve teams. The Stags played at Cobo Arena, and the Blades at the Baltimore Civic Center.

The 1974–75 WHA season was the third season of the World Hockey Association. Fourteen teams each played 78 games. The Houston Aeros won the Avco World Trophy for the second straight year in dominating fashion, losing only one time in the playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Clippers</span> Former professional minor league ice hockey team in Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Clippers were a minor league professional ice hockey team from in Baltimore, Maryland, playing in the Baltimore Civic Center. The Clippers were members of the American Hockey League from 1962 to 1976, and then played one season in the Southern Hockey League. The team was managed by Terry Reardon for its first fourteen seasons, and won three division titles, but were unable to capture a Calder Cup title. Baltimore began as a farm team for the New York Rangers, and helped develop Hall of Fame players including, Eddie Giacomin, Doug Harvey, Jacques Plante and Jean Ratelle. The Clippers also featured eight alumni, who are now members of the AHL Hall of Fame. The team name "Clippers", was used by two previous professional hockey teams in Baltimore, and paid homage to local history in the Baltimore Clipper, and the Port of Baltimore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Wilson (ice hockey)</span> Ice hockey player

John Edward Wilson was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers between 1950 and 1962. With Detroit Wilson won the Stanley Cup four times. After his playing career he coached in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit, the Colorado Rockies, and Pittsburgh Penguins between 1969 and 1980. He also coached the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades and Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association between 1974 and 1976, as well as the Canadian national team at the 1977 World Championship

Bryon Donald Baltimore is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, who played in the NHL and WHA.

Steven George Andrascik is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey right winger. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers during the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs, and 97 games in the World Hockey Association with the Indianapolis Racers, Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades, and Cincinnati Stingers from 1974 to 1976.

Andrew Conrad Brown is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.

Edward Lavern "Eddie" Johnstone is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades in the World Hockey Association (WHA), followed by parts of ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. He featured in the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals with the Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray Hall (ice hockey)</span> Ice hockey player

Murray Winston Hall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association during the 1960s and 1970s.

John Stanley Miszuk is a Polish-born Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars between 1963 and 1970. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades and Calgary Cowboys between 1974 and 1977.

Gary Raymond Veneruzzo is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played seven games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues during the 1967–68 and 1971–72 seasons, and 348 games in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Los Angeles Sharks, Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades, Cincinnati Stingers, Phoenix Roadrunners, and San Diego Mariners from 1972 to 1977. Veneruzzo was born in Fort William, Ontario.

Robert Arthur Cook was a Canadian ice hockey player. Cook played professional ice hockey from 1966 to 1975, including 72 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with four teams. Cook finished his career with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 1974–75 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Zanussi</span> Canadian ice hokey player (born 1947)

Joseph Lawrence Zanussi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association and 87 games in the National Hockey League. Zanussi's skating ability and agility earned him the nicknames 'Crazy Legs' and 'Tazmanian Devil' and although small for a pro hockey defenseman, Zanussi was a good bodychecker and possessed a big shot.

Frederick Edmondstone Speck was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. A centre, Speck had a brief major league career, playing in 28 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks, and 111 games in the World Hockey Association. For most of his career Speck played in the minor leagues, and in 1970–71, his first season in the American Hockey League, he was the top scorer, and was also named the most valuable player and rookie of the year.

The 1973–74 Los Angeles Sharks season was the Los Angeles Sharks' second and final season in Los Angeles in the World Hockey Association. The club finished last in the WHA Western Division and missed the playoffs. They moved to Detroit, MI after the season and became the Michigan Stags.

Bill Evo is an American lawyer and a former professional ice hockey player and executive.

References

    Preceded by Detroit Red Wings captain
    1974
    Succeeded by