Ashley Johnston

Ashley Johnston (born 17 July 1992) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defender and current assistant coach of the Premier Hockey Federation's Metropolitan Riveters. Known for her gritty, stay-at-home style of play as a shutdown defender, she was the first player to serve as team captain in Riveters history, a role she would hold for three years until her initial retirement.[1][2]

For other people with similar names, see Ashley Johnson.
Ashley Johnston
Johnston with the New York Riveters in 2015
Born (1992-07-17) July 17, 1992
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Position Defenceman
Shot Left
Played for New York/Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
Union Dutchwomen
Burlington Barracudas
Playing career 2015–2020

Playing career

Early career

Johnston was born in 1992 in Burlington, Ontario, and is a graduate of Union College, where she played for the Union Dutchwomen ice hockey team.[3][4] In the 2013-14 Union season, Johnston served as team captain.[5]

Professional career

Johnston joined the New York Riveters for the Premier Hockey Federation's (PHF) inaugural season in 2015–16 as a defenseman. She was elected as the franchise's first captain.[6][7]

On 18 April 2016, Johnston signed a one-year contract worth $13,500 with the New York Riveters for the 2016–17 season,[8] although salaries throughout the league were later cut up to 50% during the season.[9] Johnston was selected for the 2017 All-Star Game as a media pick.[10] Johnston was awarded the Denna Laing Award by the NWHL for her performance in the 2016–17 season, as selected by the Premier Hockey Federation Players' Association.[11][12]

On 25 May 2017, Johnston re-signed with the New York Riveters for the 2017–18 season, continuing as captain.[13][14] In October 2017, the New York Riveters were renamed the Metropolitan Riveters as part of a deal with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League as the team was playing in Newark, New Jersey.[15][16] The Riveters won the Isobel Cup that season, with Johnston earning her first career playoff point with an assist.

Following the 2017–18 season, Johnston announced her retirement from hockey.[17] She made a comeback to return to the team for the 2019–20 season, earning three points in ten games. In May 2020, she announced her retirement to join the Riveters' coaching staff as an assistant coach.[18] She had previously spent time as an assistant coach with the club while injured during the 2017–18 season.

Career statistics
    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16New York RivetersPHF 161678 20000
2016–17New York RivetersPHF 172136 10000
2017–18Metropolitan RivetersPHF 1411210 20110
2019–20Metropolitan RivetersPHF 100332 10002
PHF totals 574111526 60112

Awards and honors
  • 2012-13 Ashley Kilstein Award (Union Hockey Award)
  • 2013-14 Ashley Kilstein Award (Union Hockey Award) [19]

Personal life

Outside of hockey, Johnston works as a mechanical engineer. [20][21][22]

References
  1. Bryant, Casey (September 8, 2020). "All-Time Starting Lineup: Metropolitan Riveters". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  2. Murphy, Mike (February 27, 2018). "Ashley Johnston and the role of the shutdown defender". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  3. "Ashley Johnston at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  4. Crowley, Cathleen F. (26 December 2015). "Three local hockey players go pro in new women's league". Times Union. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. "Valente Named Team Captain for 2014-15 Season". ecachockey.com. May 8, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  6. Murphy, Mike (10 December 2015). "Interview With New York Riveters Captain Ashley "Stretch" Johnston". SB Nation. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  7. Jackson, Yolanda L. (2 August 2017). "The Fight for Equal Pay". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  8. NHWL.Co (18 April 2016). "Riveters Re-Sign Johnston and Dosdall". NHWL. Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  9. "NWHL HIT WITH BAD NEWS". The Fourth Period. November 18, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-19. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  10. Linehan, Meg (6 January 2017). "Whale's Babstock, Riveters' Johnston added to NWHL All-Star Game". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  11. Nagel, Kevin (17 March 2017). "Burlington's Johnston among NWHL award winners". Inside Halton. Burlington Post. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  12. Balf, Celia (14 March 2017). "NWHL Awards recognizes the top players this season". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  13. Murphy, Mike (25 May 2017). "The Riveters have re-signed captain Ashley Johnston". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  14. NWHL.Zone (25 May 2017). "Riveters' Re-Sign Captain Ashley Johnston". NWHL. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  15. Ingemi, Marisa (6 October 2017). "NHL partnership a step in the right direction for the NWHL". ESPN. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  16. Schram, Carol (10 October 2017). "NWHL Partnership With NHL's New Jersey Devils Aims To Boost Profile Of Women's Hockey". Forbes. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  17. "NWHL Icon Ashley "Stretch" Johnston Says Goodbye". OurSportsCentral.com. 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  18. Murphy, Mike (May 20, 2020). "Ashley Johnston joins Riveters coaching staff, Ivo Mocek returning as head coach". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  19. "Valente Named Team Captain for 2014-15 Season". ecachockey.com. May 8, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  20. Howard, Johnette (30 December 2016). "Hockey stars pushing for options outside Olympic window". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  21. Gibbs, Lindsay (9 October 2015). "These women are about to make hockey history". ThinkProgress. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  22. Layton, Jeremy (20 February 2017). "A robotics engineer by day, a women's hockey star by night". The New York Post. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
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