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Kent Johnson (ice hockey)

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Kent Johnson
Johnson with the Blue Jackets in 2024
Born (2002-10-18) October 18, 2002 (age 22)
Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  Canada
NHL draft 5th overall, 2021
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2022–present

Kent Johnson (born October 18, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for the University of Michigan. He was drafted fifth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

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Junior

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During the 2018–19 season in his first season with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Johnson recorded 20 goals and 26 points in 57 games. During the 2019–20 season, he recorded 41 goals and 60 assists in 52 games and won the Brett Hull Trophy as the league's leading scorer. Following an outstanding season, he was named BCHL First-Team All-Star, BCHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, BCHL Most Valuable Player, and Canadian Junior Hockey League Forward of the Year.[1][2]

Collegiate

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Johnson began his collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2020–21 season. On January 8, 2021, Johnson recorded a career-high five points in a game against Michigan State.[3] He became the first Michigan player to record five points in a game since J. T. Compher on March 18, 2016. He was subsequently named the Big Ten Conference First Star of the Week for the week ending January 13, 2021.[4] He finished his freshman season with nine goals and 18 assists in 26 games. He ranked second in rookie scoring in the Big Ten Conference and third in the nation in rookie points per game.[5] Following the season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.[6]

During the 2021–22 season in his sophomore year, he recorded eight goals and 29 assists in 32 games. He finished fourth in the nation in assists per game and ranked 16th in points per game.[7]

Professional

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On July 23, 2021, Johnson was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[8] On April 8, 2022, Johnson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets.[9] He made his NHL debut on April 13, 2022, in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.[10] He finished the 2021–22 season with three assists in nine games.[11] Johnson scored his first career NHL goal on October 22, 2022, against Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.[12]

On July 27, 2024, the Blue Jackets signed Johnson to a three-year, $5.4 million contract extension with an annual average of $1.8 million.[13]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Finland
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Canada

On July 21, 2021, Johnson was selected to attend Canada's National Junior Team summer development camp.[14] On January 25, 2022, Johnson was named to Team Canada's roster as an alternate to represent Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics. He recorded one goal and four assists in five games during the tournament.[15]

On May 9, 2022, Johnson was named to Canada's roster to compete at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.[16] When he scored a goal in Canada's Group A first preliminary round game, he became the fourth player in history to score at least one goal at the World Juniors, Olympics, and Worlds in the same season. The others to accomplish this feat were Saku Koivu (1993–94), Evgeni Malkin (2005–06), and Eeli Tolvanen (2017–18). He recorded four goals and three assists in ten games and won a silver medal.[17]

He represented Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he recorded three goals and six assists in seven games. He scored the game-winning overtime goal to help Canada win gold.[18]

Personal life

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Johnson was born to Jay and Anita Johnson. He has Finnish roots as his mother Anita is originally from Finland and moved to Vancouver at the age of two.[citation needed] Kent, however, does not speak Finnish.[citation needed] His brother, Kyle, plays hockey for Yale.[19]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 Trail Smoke Eaters BCHL 57 20 26 46 24 12 7 5 12 4
2019–20 Trail Smoke Eaters BCHL 52 41 60 101 14 4 1 6 7 2
2020–21 University of Michigan B1G 26 9 18 27 4 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Michigan B1G 32 8 29 37 6 — — — — —
2021–22 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 9 0 3 3 2 — — — — —
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 79 16 24 40 14 — — — — —
2023–24 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 42 6 10 16 10 — — — — —
2023–24 Cleveland Monsters AHL 10 5 10 15 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 130 22 37 59 26 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Canada OG 6th 5 1 4 5 0
2022 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 4 3 7 0
2022 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 3 6 9 2
Junior totals 7 3 6 9 2
Senior totals 15 5 7 12 0

Awards and honours

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Award Year
College
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2021 [20]

References

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  1. ^ Phillips, Benjamin (February 26, 2020). "Kent Johnson named League MVP and Most Sportsmanlike while Logan Terness takes home Rookie of the Year award". The Trail Champion. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Kent Johnson Named CJHL Top Forward". trailsmokeeaters.com. April 24, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  3. ^ McNeil, Kristy (January 8, 2021). "Nine Wolverines Light Lamp as Mann, U-M Blank Michigan State". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State Earn Three Stars Honors". BigTen.org. January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. ^ LaBarber, Jourdon (July 20, 2021). "NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Kent Johnson". NHL.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 16, 2021). "Bordeleau, York Named B1G Rookie, Defenseman of Year to Lead U-M Honorees". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  7. ^ McNeil, Kristy (April 8, 2022). "Blankenburg, Johnson, Power Sign Professional Contracts". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "CBJ select Kent Johnson with 5th Overall Pick". NHL.com. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "CBJ sign 2021 first round pick Kent Johnson to three-year ELC". NHL.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Johnson, Bailey (April 13, 2022). "Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg set for NHL debuts Wednesday against Canadiens". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  11. ^ Portzline, Aaron (November 23, 2022). "Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson is beginning to emerge despite limited ice time". The Athletic. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Maeir, Coby (October 22, 2022). "Kent Johnson Scores His First Career Goal But Jackets Allow Five Unanswered Goals and Fall 6-3 to Pittsburgh". 1st Ohio Battery. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Blue Jackets sign Kent Johnson to three-year contract". Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  14. ^ McNeil, Kristy (July 21, 2021). "Johnson, Power Invited to Hockey Canada Camp". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  15. ^ McNeil, Kristy (January 25, 2022). "Power, Johnson Selected to Hockey Canada Olympic Roster". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  16. ^ "Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson to represent Canada at Worlds". NHL.com. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  17. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (May 14, 2022). "For Johnson, best is yet to come". IIHF.com. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  18. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (August 21, 2022). "Canada claims summertime gold in OT". IIHF.com. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  19. ^ "Kent Johnson". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  20. ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Columbus Blue Jackets first round draft pick
2021 		Succeeded by
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