Craig Johnson (ice hockey b. 1971)

Craig Johnson (born November 16, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Johnson played offense during all his minor hockey and became a feared DeFence for the rest of his professional career between 1991 and 2003.

Minor Hockey

Johnson grew up in Laval, Qc where he played all his minor hockey. He was drafted by the Hawkesbury Hawks where he won two championships under Stanley Cup winning coach Bob Hartley. Before turning pro, Johnson played a last amateur season with the Concordia Stingers and majored in Economics.

Playing and coaching career

Johnson played Professionally for 12 Years (1991–2003) in various leagues across North-America, including the International Hockey League, American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and the Central Hockey League. He participated in 580 regular season and playoff games where he scored 77 goals and 92 assists. Johnson was also know a fast and robust defenceman feared by many players. During his career he accumulated 2494 minutes of penalties. He finished his career as player assistant coach for his final 4 seasons and then became full time assistant coach in Fort Worth TX. During those 2 years he was also the hockey director for the Fort Worth Amateur Hockey Association.

From 2004 to 2006, Johnson led the Connecticut Jr. Whalers in the interstate junior hockey league (IJHL) as head coach and reached the National Junior Championships during both seasons. Johnson now lives in Montreal and is involved in the fitness industry as well as giving back to the youth hockey players through hockey associations, hockey schools and coaching elite hockey teams.

In 2012, Johnson comes back behind a bench for a high caliber hockey team when he is appointed as head coach for the Saint-Leonard Arctic in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League.

Coaches

During his amateur and professional career, Johnson was developed by famous coaches including Bob Hartley, Randy Carlyle, Gilbert Delorme, Mike McEwen, Dave Tippett and Doug Shedden.

Career statistics