Breezy Point Ice Arena & Lodge

 Jim Johnson was born August 9, 1962 in New Hope, MN and went on to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs from 1980-1984. Johnson was named Rookie of the Year in 1981 and he holds the record for most games played at UMD, playing in 174 of 175 games. He was also named to the WCHA All Academic Team in its inaugural season. While at UMD he led the Bulldogs to the WCHA Championship his last three years and had three NCAA appearances including two trips to the NCAA Final Four in 1984 and 1985. Following his college career, Johnson played 13 years in the National Hockey League, from 1985-98. He signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1985 and went on to play in all 80 games his first two seasons. His rookie season he was named "Rookie of the Year" for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Johnson played parts of six seasons with the Penguins before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars in the early stages of the 1990-91 season. He transferred to Dallas in the summer of 1993 after the Minnesota franchise relocated and was subsequently traded to the Washington Capitals in the latter stages of the 1993-94 season. Johnson signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes in the summer of 1996. On November 11, 1997 Jim suffered a career-ending head injury in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He officially announced his retirement on July 21, 1998 after 829 career NHL games. Johnson’s International playing experience includes representing the United States on seven National Teams. He played at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships on four separate occasions; 1985, 1986, 1987, and in 1990 he captained the U.S. Team, scoring 5 points in 10 games at the IIHF World Championships in Bern, Switzerland. Johnson also represented the United States at the Canada Cup in 1991, winning a Silver Medal. Following his playing career Jim spent four years involved with the Phoenix Coyotes organization as a Consultant to the General Manager, Broadcast Analyst and Interim Assistant Coach. He then moved on to coaching where he has served in a variety of coaching capacities for USA Hockey including three consecutive years as an Assistant Coach for the United States National Junior Team at the International Ice Hockey World Jr. Championships. Since 2002 he has been coaching youth hockey. In 2005 his team won the USA Hockey Tier II U14 National Championship and in 2006 they advanced to the finals for the USA Hockey Tier II U16 National Championship. Finally, Jim was honored by being named as the 2006 USA Hockey Volunteer Coach of the Year. Jim currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his family. He is a successful business man and entrepreneur, but it is his accomplishments and contributions to hockey in the United States that make him a role model for any American born hockey player.