Johannson, longtime USA Hockey executive, dies at 53

Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations with USA Hockey and the general manager of the 2018 United States Olympic men's team, died Sunday. He was 53.
Johannson, a two-time Olympian during his playing career (1988, 1992), was a stalwart with USA Hockey since joining the organization in 2000 as manager of international activities and U.S. Olympic Committee relations.

"He was so compassionate and as loyal a friend as you could have," said Tony Granato, who will coach the U.S. at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. "He was the ultimate teammate."
As a USA Hockey executive, Johannson was part of the management team for every Olympics since 2002, when the U.S. won a silver medal in Salt Lake City. He also was part of the 2010 team in Vancouver that won silver.
"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," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "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. We send strength, comfort and condolences to Jim's wife, Abby, his daughter, Ellie, and his many friends in our sport. As we mourn his loss, we will remember the positive outlook Jim brought to his tireless efforts to advance USA Hockey."
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Among the most significant accomplishments during Johannson's tenure at USA Hockey were winning 64 medals (34 gold, 19 silver, 11 bronze) in major international competition, as well as helping launch and implement the highly acclaimed American Development Model and securing USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, as a home for all U.S. teams.
Brian Burke, Calgary Flames president of hockey operations, was general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, and worked alongside Johannson at numerous other international events.
"Right after a heartbreaking loss in the 2010 Olympic gold-medal game (3-2 in overtime to Canada), I went outside the dressing room, and JJ was loading sticks into bags to help the trainers. That's the kind of guy he was," Burke said. "JJ loved USA Hockey, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of every single player who played in the program. Always cheerful with a huge workload. He will be almost impossible to replace."

Dean Lombardi, who twice won the Stanley Cup as general manager of the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014) and now serves as senior adviser to Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall, was selected to join the U.S. men's national team advisory group in 2009 and worked closely with Johannson in that capacity. Lombardi also was GM for Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
"When I think about JJ, certainly work ethic, perseverance, caring and knowledge come to mind," Lombardi said. "But what really stands at the forefront is that he possessed the most unique of all human qualities in that he was not happy unless everyone else was happy -- a human being who will be sorely missed."
USA Hockey part-time adviser Dave Ogrean, who was USA Hockey executive director from 1993-1999 and from 2005 until his retirement on Jan. 12, 2017, worked closely with Johannson.
"His effort on behalf of American hockey players, from development, to advancement, to being respected as players, and to seeing the number of Americans succeeding at the highest level in the NHL, is something we have to make sure we never back off from because it's a bar that he set high and we have to strive to always play at that level or above," Ogrean said.

Johannson was the general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team for the past nine World Junior Championships and served on the staff of 16 World Junior teams. The United States won three gold medals under his leadership (2010, 2013, 2017). He also built bronze-medal teams in 2011, 2016 and 2018, and was on the management team in 2004 when the U.S. won gold in Finland.
Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler has represented the United States in various international tournaments since 2006.
"Behind the scenes, he was the face of USA Hockey," Wheeler said. "Every single guy who's gone through that system or played any level at USA Hockey has a great relationship with JJ and everything that he did and helped a ton of guys' careers, whether getting into college or professional. You just can't say enough about what he meant to USA Hockey."

Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo played for Johannson on several World Junior and World Championship teams beginning in 2005.
"Jim Johannson was an amazing person," Okposo tweeted. "JJ was synonymous with USA Hockey and its leadership. My condolences to his family. You will be missed but not forgotten. Rest In Peace"
After winning the bronze at the 2018 WJC in Buffalo on Jan. 5, Johannson was asked what it meant to him to see the U.S. win a medal a third straight year at the tournament for the first time in history.
"We have spoken about consistency and medals as a marker, while always appreciating when we win gold," Johannson told NHL.com. "To win 8-3 (against Sweden in the 2016 WJC) and 9-3 (against Czech Republic in the 2018 WJC) in the last two bronze games is another marker. It sends a future statement both to other countries but more importantly to our teams and players that finishing off tournaments matter; whether that's for gold or bronze."

Ogrean said Johannson was one executive you never had to worry about doing his job to the nth degree.
"As smart and as opinionated about certain topics as he was, he was someone who's mind was always open, he was very respectful of other people's experiences and opinions, and his attention to detail was outstanding, but he loved the people that he worked with and that was obviously mutual," Ogrean said. "He loved to see American athletes having success and he was proud of their success and proud of the evolution and development of our program and the arc of USA Hockey's rise over the last 18-plus years since he came on board.
"That was JJ's doing; not alone, but as much or more than any other single individual."
At the World Championship level, Johansson served on the staff of 18 straight teams, beginning in 1999. He was team leader (1999-2004), assistant GM (2005-06), senior director of hockey operations (2007) and assistant executive director of hockey operations (2008-17).
"Jim was a great hockey man, who had a significant impact on the success of USA Hockey," said Philadelphia Flyers president Paul Holmgren, who worked with Johannson in a number of capacities at USA Hockey. "From the youth hockey level to the NHL, everyone knew JJ. This is a huge loss for the entire hockey world."
Said New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero: "JJ was a special person and I will never forget his selfless efforts on behalf of so many others. I am just one of the many people he impacted in a positive way in hockey and, more importantly, in life. I'm forever thankful to have known him and I will miss him dearly. Although he has sadly passed, I, along with many others, will never forget him."

"I was incredibly shocked and saddened by the news of Jim Johannson's passing," Devils forward Kyle Palmieri said. "Over the course of my career, Jim had a profound influence on the opportunities I was given both on and off the ice. He helped me grow as a player and a person. From my first time meeting him through the [National Team Development Program] in Ann Arbor to competing in the World Cup last fall, I am incredibly grateful for the relationship I had with Jim and how much help and support he gave me throughout the years. It is a huge loss to the USA hockey family. My condolences to his family and friends."
Johannson, from Rochester, Minnesota, was a seventh-round pick (No. 130) of the Hartford Whalers in the 1982 NHL Draft. A center, he played in the International Hockey League with Salt Lake City, Indianapolis and Milwaukee from 1987-94 after spending four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where he won a national championship in 1983.