Joey Johnston

Joseph John Johnston (born March 3, 1949) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player. Johnston played 331 games in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, he played in the 1961 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his hometown youth team. He played junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes from 1964 to 1967. His play attracted the attention of the New York Rangers who selected him eighth in the 1966 Amateur Draft. He made his professional debut with the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate Omaha Knights but was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in a trade for Dave Balon.

Johnston started his NHL career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1968, but spent most of his time in the minors until 1971–72, when he became a front-line player for the California Golden Seals. His high-water mark came during the 1972–73 season through 1973–74 season, when for a Golden Seals team savaged by defections to the World Hockey Association he rose to the forefront, leading the team in goals both seasons with 27 and 28 respectively and being named to play in the NHL All-Star Game in 1973, 1974 and 1975. As virtually the Seals' only star, he was named team captain in the fall of 1973.

However, his production in the 1974–75 season was half that of the year before, and he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in June 1975. In August of that year, Johnston was injured in a car crash. The injuries caused him to miss the Chicago training camp and the first 12 games of the season. His scoring touch deserted completely, managing only five assists in 32 games, and he finished the season in the minor leagues, retiring thereafter at the age of 27.

He finished his NHL career with 85 goals and 106 assists for 191 points in 331 games, adding 320 penalty minutes, and is the all-time leading point scorer for the defunct California Golden Seals with 185 points in 288 games for the Golden Seals. He returned to Peterborough and took up coaching while working as a contractor. His brother Jim also played professional ice hockey, playing several seasons in the International Hockey League.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1964–65 Peterborough Monsens EJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1964–65 Peterborough Petes OHA-Jr. 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1965–66 Peterborough Petes OHA-Jr. 44 8 15 23 91 6 0 0 0 10 1966–67 Peterborough Petes OHA-Jr. 32 8 19 27 114 6 1 3 4 28 1967–68 Buffalo Bisons AHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1967–68 Omaha Knights CPHL 70 24 22 46 131 — — — — — 1968–69 Minnesota North Stars NHL 11 1 0 1 6 — — — — — 1968–69 Memphis South Stars CHL 58 20 37 57 91 — — — — — 1969–70 Iowa Stars CHL 62 20 37 57 115 11 4 6 10 38 1970–71 Cleveland Barons AHL 72 27 47 74 142 8 7 4 11 24 1971–72 California Golden Seals NHL 77 15 17 32 107 — — — — — 1972–73 California Golden Seals NHL 71 28 21 49 62 — — — — — 1973–74 California Golden Seals NHL 78 27 40 67 67 — — — — — 1974–75 California Golden Seals NHL 62 14 23 37 72 — — — — — 1975–76 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 32 0 5 5 6 — — — — — 1975–76 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 11 4 2 6 4 — — — — — CPHL/CHL totals 201 68 98 166 341 11 4 6 10 38 NHL totals 331 85 106 191 320 — — — — —