Tom Johnson (ice hockey)

Christian Thomas "Tom" Johnson ( born February 18, 1928 in Baldur, Manitoba, † November 21, 2007 in Falmouth, Massachusetts, United States) was a Canadian ice hockey player (defender) and coach, and from 1947 to 1965 for the Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins played in the National Hockey League.

Career

As a junior he played with the Winnipeg Monarchs, a boys team of the Toronto Maple Leafs. There they found him not suitable for the NHL. A scout of the Montreal Canadiens saw him and took him to the Montreal Royals. In the 1947/48 season he made his debut with the Canadiens, but initially there were difficulties with the Treaty. At the end of his second season with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, he made ​​the jump to the NHL.

From the season 1950/51 he was an integral part of the Canadiens, who have won the Stanley Cup six times in the next nine years. Especially outnumbered he was repeatedly used while he often took on the role of the center in majority. We especially appreciated his passionate dedication, his perseverance and his consistency. Although he possessed offensive skills, he left this part usually Doug Harvey. Striking it was when he took the puck without physical contact to the opponent and a quick counter-attack launched. He had his most successful season in the season 1958/59, when he was voted the best defender in the NHL. Harvey was injured during this time often and Johnson replaced him as the leading figure in the defense. In the early 1960s he played in a series with the young Jacques Laperrière. In the season 1962/63 he suffered a serious facial injury and it was uncertain whether he could continue his career. Under these conditions, the Canadiens did not protect him when Waiver Draft and the Boston Bruins took advantage of this opportunity.

He wore for two seasons the jersey of Bruins before forcing him an injury to end his career.

After the end of his active career he remained in Boston and helped Harry Sinden, the coach in building a strong team. From 1970 he was coach of the team itself to Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, could the 1972 Stanley Cup win.

In 1970 he was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

  • Stanley Cup: 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 ( as a player ); 1972 ( as coach )

Personal Awards

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