Johnson played a physical, defensive game. At 16 years of age, Johnson joined the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 1975. After two seasons in Calgary, he moved on to the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) for the 1977–78 season. Johnson then joined the University of Calgary Dinos for the 1978–79 season, where he played for one year in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) league, now U Sports.[2]
Johnson made his NHL debut with the Quebec Nordiques during the 1979–80 season. He went on to play for the Nordiques in parts of four seasons. During this time, Johnson also played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Syracuse Firebirds (1979-1980), Hershey Bears (1980-1981), and Fredericton Express (1981-1983).[1][2]
Johnson was acquired by the St. Louis Blues in the 1983 waiver draft. After two seasons with the franchise, Johnson was named assistant captain for the St. Louis Blues in 1985.[2] In 1986, he was traded to the Calgary Flames, where he contributed to the franchise's first-ever conference championship.
Coaching career
When his professional hockey career came to an end in 1988, Johnson returned to the University of Calgary and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1991.[2][3] He served as an assistant coach for the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey team from 1989-1995[2], coaching the team to two division championships (Canada West 1990, 1995) alongside Willie Desjardins and Tim Bothwell.
Johnson coached minor hockey from 2004- 2019, following his two daughters from Timbits through to Midget AAA with Girls Hockey Calgary.[4]
3RD ASSIST Club
In 2020, Johnson co-founded the 3RD ASSIST Club, a University of Calgary Men's Hockey alumni group created to provide ongoing support for the Dinos Men's Hockey program. As the club's current president, Johnson plays a key role in overseeing the engagement and building of a network among alumni and supporters, fundraising, supporting student athletes, and enhancing the team's development.[2]
The 3RD ASSIST Club also introduced the "Connect Program," an outstanding initiative that connects current University of Calgary men's hockey players with alumni in a variety of different industries. Alumni serve as mentors to the student-athletes, leveraging their own experiences and networks to offer opportunities and guidance. The Connect Program reflects the 3RD ASSIST Club's desire to support student-athletes, ensuring they are set up for success during their time as Dinos and beyond.
While the primary goal of the 3rd Assist Club is to support the student-athletes and the current Dinos team, it also brings together old teammates and coaches, fostering a stronger sense of community and pride within the Dinos program.
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