Hockey family mourns the loss of Jim Johannson

James "Jim" Johannson passed away in his sleep Sunday morning, according to a release of USA Hockey. He was 53 and leaves behind a wife and a daughter. Jonannson was one of the best known and respected figures in the icehockey community, a family presence in the arenas around the world, following the US national team, at senior and U20 level. It would have been like that in South Korea in a couple of weeks, at the Olympics.
International Hockey League, registering 119 goals and 278 points with 420 minutes in penalties. He played with Team USA at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, and also at the 1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.
After playing college hockey at the University of Wisconsin from 1982-86 and a season in Germany at EV Landsberg,  Johannson, a Rochester, Minnesota native, had an extensive career in the defunct International Hockey League (IHL), registering 119 goals and 278 points in 374 games for Salt Lake, Indianapolis and Milwakee. He played with Team USA at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, and also at the 1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He was honored with the Ironman Award by IHL in 1990-91 season.
Johannson began working for USA Hockey in 2000 after spending five years as the general manager of the Twin Cities Vulcans in the USHL. Since then he has alternated the role of team manager and GM for the senior and the U20 national team, position also occupied the recent U20 championships in Buffalo.

“We are beyond shocked and profoundly saddened,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “As accomplished as Jim was in hockey, he was the absolute best, most humble, kind and caring person you could ever hope to meet. His impact on our sport and more importantly the people and players in our sport have been immeasurable. Our condolences go out to his entire family, but especially to his loving wife Abby and their young daughter Ellie.”

"In building the teams that achieved so much success for USA Hockey, Jim Johannson had a sharp eye for talent, a strong sense of chemistry and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The NHL family's respect for Jim's contributions to hockey, at all levels, is exceeded only by our shock and sorrow over his sudden passing." said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman

 

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