Jim Johnson (ice hockey, born 1942)

Norman James Johnson (November 7, 1942 – May 4, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings from 1964 to 1972. He went on to play three seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Indianapolis Racers from 1972 to 1975.

For the 1980s and 1990s Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars defenseman, see Jim Johnson (ice hockey, born 1962).
Jim Johnson
Born (1942-11-07)November 7, 1942
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Died May 4, 2021(2021-05-04) (aged 78)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Fighting Saints
Indianapolis Racers
Playing career 1963–1975

Early life

Johnson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on November 7, 1942.[1] He played three seasons for the Winnipeg Rangers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League from 1959 to 1961,[2][3] before joining the Sudbury Wolves of the Eastern Professional Hockey League the following season.[4]

Professional career

Johnson was signed by the New York Rangers during the 1963–64 season and played for the St. Paul Rangers, their minor league affiliate, until the latter part of 1964–65,[4] when he made his NHL debut. That turned out to be the only NHL game he would play in that year. He played in only seven games over the next two seasons, scoring one goal.[1] He was subsequently drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 75th selection of the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft.[5][6]

Johnson scored the first goal in Flyers' franchise history during an exhibition game.[6] During his first season with the team in 1967–68, he had two goals and one assist in 13 games.[1] He played his first full NHL season the following year,[6] amassing 44 points (including 17 goals) in 69 games.[1] It was the first of three seasons in which Johnson scored 16 or more goals for the Flyers.[1][6] He recorded career-highs in points (48) and assists (30) in 1969–70, and scored his first hat-trick on December 3, 1969, against the Los Angeles Kings.[1] His strongest offensive performance came almost one year later on November 19, 1970, when he scored another hat-trick and had an assist against the California Golden Seals.[5][6] He was traded along with Serge Bernier and Bill Lesuk from the Flyers to the Kings for Ross Lonsberry, Bill Flett, Jean Potvin and Eddie Joyal on January 28, 1972.[7] During his final NHL season in 1971–72, Johnson scored 21 goals in 74 games for the Flyers and Kings, both numbers representing career bests.[1]

In 1972 Johnson signed to play with the WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints. He scored the first goal in history at the Saint Paul Civic Center while playing with the Minnesota Fighting Saints. [8] He played three seasons with the Saints, with his best year coming in 1973–74 when he recorded 54 points (including 39 assists) in 71 games. He was traded to the Indianapolis Racers in November 1974, and finished his career with the team at the end of the season.[1][4]

Later life

After retiring from professional hockey, Johnson operated a sporting goods store in Transcona and coached in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League. He was awarded the Nick Hill Trophy as coach of the year in the 1983–84 season while managing the Transcona Railers.[5]

Johnson died on May 4, 2021, at the age of 78.[5][6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1959–60 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 2878152 123250
1960–61 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 2915213612 —————
1960–61 Winnipeg Rangers M-Cup ————— 124598
1961–62 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 3922234548 31120
1962–63 Sudbury Wolves EPHL 7016365216 81452
1963–64 St. Paul Rangers CPHL 7021335414 113580
1964–65 New York Rangers NHL 10000 —————
1964–65 St. Paul Rangers CPHL 6119456414 1146107
1965–66 New York Rangers NHL 51010 —————
1965–66 Minnesota Rangers CPHL 6224467012 73250
1966–67 New York Rangers NHL 20000 —————
1966–67 Omaha Knights CPHL 6426467220 122572
1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 132132 —————
1967–68 Quebec Aces AHL 5927457214 15581310
1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 6917274420 30002
1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 7218304817 —————
1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 6616294516 40220
1970–71 Quebec Aces AHL 50110 —————
1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 4613152812 —————
1971–72 Los Angeles Kings NHL 2889176 —————
1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 339142312 52132
1973–74 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 7115395430 111454
1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 111340 —————
1974–75 Indianapolis Racers WHA 427152212 —————
WHA totals 157327110354 163586
NHL totals 3027511118673 70222

Awards

References
  1. "Jim Johnson Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. "Jim Johnson". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  3. "Johnson, Jimmy – Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame". Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  4. "Jim Johnson Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  5. Meltzer, Bill (May 6, 2021). "Flyers Mourn Passing of Jim Johnson". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  6. Carchidi, Sam (May 6, 2021). "Jimmy Johnson, original member of the Flyers and part of a blockbuster trade, dies at 78". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  7. William Flett (RW) 1971–1974 – Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  8. "WHA Game Summary".
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