Ryan Johnson has contributed his skills and determination to a number of teams since he was drafted into the National Hockey League in 1994. Over the years, the 6-foot-1-inch, 199-pound center has been plagued by serious, debilitating injuries, undergone dangerous medical procedures and suffered tough emotional blows. But he has been praised as a fearless and reliable defensive player.
Family Background
Ryan Johnson was born on June 14, 1976, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. His father, Jim, shared his son’s intense love of hockey. The elder Johnson played hockey at the university level and, while he worked as a lawyer, found time to coach and build hockey programs to serve young players in the Thunder Bay area. As a boy, Ryan played hockey and drilled on a backyard rink with his friends and brothers, including his oldest brother, Greg, who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League before retiring from the game due to a heart condition.
Young Adult Life
From 1992 to 1993, Ryan played for the Thunder Bay Kings, a Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association team. He went on to play junior hockey with the Thunder Bay Flyers in the U.S. Hockey League from 1993 to 1994. In 1994, at the age of 17, he was drafted in the second round by the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, but he spent the next two years as a student at the University of North Dakota, where he split his time on the ice between college hockey and the Canada National Team. When he formally joined the Panthers as a pro in 1996, he played for the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Carolina Monarchs, before playing for the Panthers in 1997.
National Hockey League Career
Following his stint with the Panthers, Johnson was traded along with Dwayne Haye to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000. He went on to play for the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks before signing on as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in December, 2010. Known as a strong penalty killer, Johnson led the NHL with 105 blocked shots while playing for the Blues.
Medical Procedures and Injuries
Johnson has proven himself courageous, aggressive and remarkably resilient when faced with significant physical obstacles and injuries. In light of his brother's serious heart ailment, Johnson was advised by doctors to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he underwent a series of tests, including a high risk procedure that simulates a heart attack. In December, 2001, he suffered a concussion that caused him to miss the last 48 games of the regular season. In 2006, he missed a dozen games due to a separated shoulder. A broken finger that he sustained in 2009 prevented him from playing much of that season, and in 2010, Johnson missed more than 20 games due to various foot injuries.
Outlook
In 2010, Johnson wrote a guest column entitled "Hockey and Family Ties That Bind" in the Vancouver BC, Canada, newspaper, "The Province." This column serves as a tribute to his father. Johnson explains that his father, who died of cancer in June, 2008, was responsible for shaping his own outlook and character, and he credits his dad with much of his success on the ice. The loss of his role model deeply affected the younger Johnson, who praises his father for being a good listener and for valuing hard work and persistence.
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