Karl Johnston (ice hockey) explained

Karl Johnston
Birth Date:11 August 1967
Birth Place:Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:181
Position:Defenseman
Played For:Lake Superior State
Springfield Indians
Louisville Icehawks
Raleigh IceCaps
Knoxville Cherokees
Amarillo Rattlers
Wichita Thunder
Career Start:1987
Career End:1999

Karl Johnston (born August 11, 1967) is a Canadian constable and former ice hockey Defenseman who was an All-American for Lake Superior State and helped the Lakers win their first National Championship in 1988.

Career

Johnston began attending Lake Superior State University in 1987, joining the program just in time to help the Lakers win a national championship. Johnston finished second on the team in terms of scoring from the blueline and remained a mainstay on the defense for four years. His scoring output increased each year and LSSU made the NCAA Tournament each year he was with the club. As a senior, Johnston was named as an alternate captain and led the team to a program record 36 wins.[1] Johnston was named to the All-American team and helped Lake State win the first conference championship in program history. Unfortunately, the top-seeded Lakers were upset in the national quarterfinals and Johnston's college career was over.

After graduating, Johnston signed with the New York Islanders organization and began his professional career with the Springfield Indians. He remained with the club for about a season and a half before being demoted to the ECHL. While he played well, Johnston realized that he needed another career path and retired after the 1994 season. He returned to Ontario and began working as a police officer in St. Thomas. He continued that work while making several additional appearances as a player for the remainder of the decade but eventually hung up his skates for good in 1999. In 2003 Johnston joined the Ontario Provincial Police and has worked as a constable ever since (as of 2021).[2]

Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1983–84Windsor RoyalsWJBHL
1985–86London DiamondsWJBHL379283762
1986–87London DiamondsWJBHL3912334599
1987–88Lake Superior StateCCHA427132038
1988–89Lake Superior StateCCHA437192638
1989–90Lake Superior StateCCHA4312284032
1990–91Lake Superior StateCCHA4514365086
1991–92Springfield IndiansAHL341111217
1992–93Springfield IndiansAHL2434712
1992–93Louisville IcehawksECHL285202529
1993–94Raleigh IceCapsECHL4814233784122354
1995–96Knoxville CherokeesECHL52214162270006
1996–97Knoxville CherokeesECHL30004
1996–97Amarillo RattlersWPHL50009
1998–99Wichita ThunderCHL30002
NCAA totals173 40 96 136 194
AHL totals58 4 15 19 29
ECHL totals131 21 57 78 139 19 2 3 5 10

Awards and honors

AwardYear
CCHA All-Tournament Team1988[3]
All-CCHA First Team1990–91[4]
AHCA West Second-Team All-American1990–91[5]
CCHA All-Tournament Team1991[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. College Hockey Online. Lake Superior Men's Hockey Team History. 1996–2010. November 28, 2010.
  2. Web site: Karl Johnston . Linked In . July 10, 2021.
  3. News: 2012-13 CCHA Media Guide. ISSUU.com. 2014-04-23.
  4. News: All-CCHA Teams. College Hockey Historical Archives. 2013-07-27.
  5. News: Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners. NCAA.org. June 11, 2013.
  6. News: 2012-13 CCHA Media Guide. ISSUU.com. 2014-04-23.