Larry Johnston (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Larry Roy Johnston is a former professional ice hockey
defenceman
who played for over 14 years in 7 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
.
knew they saw something they liked in the six-foot defenceman from Kitchener, when they 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 CHL, showing great defensive skill and a knack for finding the back of the net or an open teammate. He also showed up in a big way during both teams' playoff runs. So when Johnston was traded to the American Hockey League's
Springfield Indians
for Bruce Gamble
, it came as something of a shock. However, it would turn out to be a blessing as Johnston would continue his great defensive play for city of Springfield as the hockey club was purchased by the Los Angeles Kings
of the NHL
and renamed the Springfield Kings. The Kings recognized Johnston's talent and decided he deserved a chance in the big leagues. In the 1967–68 season he made four appearances with the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL, 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 to the Detroit Red Wings
by Los Angeles along with Dale Rolfe
and Gary Croteau
for Garry Monahan
, Brian Gibbons
and Matt Ravlich
on February 20, 1970. He started off in the Central Hockey League with the Fort Worth Wings before quickly moving back up to the AHL with the Baltimore Clippers
.
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 the defenceman down. The Stags folded late in the 1974–75 season, and the Kansas City Scouts
turned to Johnston to add muscle and organization to their young defence. 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, and these would be his last in the NHL.
Johnston played the remainder of that season for the Maine Nordiques
of the North American Hockey League
and finally retired in 1977.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played for over 14 years in 7 different hockey leagues. He spent the most time with the Springfield Indians/Kings
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
where he served a short term as Captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
.
Minor league hockey
The Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
knew they saw something they liked in the six-foot defenceman from Kitchener, when they drafted Johnston in 1965. Johnston had spent the previous two seasons playing for the Johnstown Jets
Johnstown Jets
The Johnstown Jets were a professional ice hockey team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena...
of the EHL
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
and the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (hockey team)
The Tulsa Oilers are a professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. The Oilers played their home games at the Maxwell Center until 2008, when they moved into the new BOK Center. For many years, the Tulsa Oilers name was shared with Tulsa's former minor-league baseball team that...
of the CHL, showing great defensive skill and a knack for finding the back of the net or an open teammate. He also showed up in a big way during both teams' playoff runs. So when Johnston was traded to the American Hockey League's
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
for Bruce Gamble
Bruce Gamble
Bruce George Gamble was a professional ice hockey goaltender who played 10 seasons in the NHL between 1962 and 1972, with some years in the minor leagues in between...
, it came as something of a shock. However, it would turn out to be a blessing as Johnston would continue his great defensive play for city of Springfield as the hockey club was purchased by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and renamed the Springfield Kings. The Kings recognized Johnston's talent and decided he deserved a chance in the big leagues. In the 1967–68 season he made four appearances with the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL, 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 to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
by Los Angeles along with Dale Rolfe
Dale Rolfe
Dale Roland Carl Rolfe is a former ice hockey defenceman. He spent his junior career with the Barrie Flyers through the 1956–57 and 1959–60 seasons...
and Gary Croteau
Gary Croteau
Gary "Crow" Croteau is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward, most notably with the Colorado Rockies of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:After a dominant collegiate hockey career at St...
for Garry Monahan
Garry Monahan
Garry Michael Monahan is a retired Canadian professional hockey player who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, Brian Gibbons
Brian Gibbons (ice hockey)
Brian Gibbons is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in 226 games in the World Hockey Association.-External links:...
and Matt Ravlich
Matt Ravlich
Matthew Joseph Ravlich is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Ravlich started his National Hockey League career with the Boston Bruins. He would also play with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, and Los Angeles Kings. His career would last from 1963 to 1973.-External links:*...
on February 20, 1970. He started off in the Central Hockey League with the Fort Worth Wings before quickly moving back up to the AHL with the Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
.
Reaching the NHL
The following season was the one that Johnston had been waiting for as he needed only 12 games with the Tidewater Red 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 CupStanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning seasons of the 1950s. He played three seasons in Detroit before signing with the Michigan Stags
Michigan Stags
The Michigan Stags were a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan that played a portion of the 1974–75 season in the World Hockey Association. On January 18, 1975, the franchise was moved to Baltimore where it was known as the Baltimore Blades. The Stags originated as the Los...
of the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
in July, 1974 and played there until a rash of injuries shut the defenceman down. The Stags folded late in the 1974–75 season, and the Kansas City Scouts
Kansas City Scouts
The Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
turned to Johnston to add muscle and organization to their young defence. Johnston had one full season with Kansas City in 1975–76 before the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado as the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
. Johnston suited up for 25 games in the 1976–77 season, and these would be his last in the NHL.
Johnston played the remainder of that season for the Maine Nordiques
Maine Nordiques
The Maine Nordiques were a professional hockey team that operated within the North American Hockey League from 1973–1977. They were based in Lewiston, Maine.- References :*...
of the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
and finally retired in 1977.