Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Monday 22 January 2018

US hockey GM dies unexpectedly

at Colorado Springs home

By STEPHEN WHYNO tive director Dave Ogrean and 1992 Olympics, began
AP Hockey Writer said by phone. “If we ever working for USA Hockey in
Longtime USA Hockey ex- had a ‘Win one for the Gip- 2000 after spending five
ecutive and U.S. Olympic per’ moment, this is it.” years as the general man-
men’s hockey general It’s unclear who would be ager of the Twin Cities Vul-
manager Jim Johannson in charge of choosing any cans in the United States
died unexpectedly Sunday potential injury replace- Hockey League. He was
at age 53, shocking the ments if needed. The U.S. promoted to assistant ex-
sport less than three weeks opens the Olympics Feb. 14 ecutive director of hockey
before the start of the Py- against Slovenia. operations in 2007, over-
eongchang Games. The talent pool now and seeing the organization’s
Johannson died in his sleep in other tournaments is efforts in fielding teams for This Aug. 4, 2017 file photo shows Jim Johannson speaking
at his home in Colorado deeper in part because international competition. during a news conference in Plymouth, Mich.
Springs, according to USA of Johannson, who has He played college hockey Associated Press
Hockey. His death came overseen the growth of at Wisconsin and helped in the NHL, he was respect- loyal a friend as you could
in the midst of the most hockey in the U.S. beyond the Badgers win the NCAA ed and well-liked by those have. He was the ultimate
high-profile role in his ca- the “Miracle On Ice” in championship as a fresh- all over hockey. teammate. I am deeply
reer: putting together the 1980. Retired American- man. He was selected by “We lost a true friend in saddened and shocked
U.S. men’s Olympic hockey born forward Jeremy Roe- Hartford in the seventh Jim Johannson today,” and sorry that he is no lon-
team without NHL play- nick said, “USA hockey is a round of the 1982 draft and Granato said. “He was so ger with us. He was a spe-
ers going to South Korea, world power now because although he never played compassionate and as cial human being. q
a position he relished after of people like Jimmy Jo-
doing so at several world hannson.”
junior and world champi- The U.S. won 64 medals, Knights beat Hurricanes,
onships. including 34 gold, in major
USA Hockey recently to be The Americans in particular have best record in NHL
“He had a couple of the international competition
greatest days of his life at during Johannson’s tenure.

able to call all these guys became a perennial threat
that never thought in their to win the world junior RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) —
lives they’d play on a U.S. championship, showing the James Neal and Jona-
Olympic hockey team, program’s improvement at than Marchessault scored
and he got to tell them that the youth levels. to help the Vegas Golden
they realized a dream,” Carolina Hurricanes presi- Knights beat the Carolina
USA Hockey execute di- dent Don Waddell said Jo- Hurricanes 5-1 on Sunday
rector Pat Kelleher said by hannson “has been a driv- night, giving the expansion
phone. “I think that meant ing force in making both franchise the best record in
as much to Jimmy as it did the USA Hockey men’s and the NHL.
to any of the players.” women’s programs into The Golden Knights are 31-
With the NHL out of the consistent winners, and 11-4, good for 66 points.
Olympics for the first time 2015 gold-medal-winning That’s one ahead of Tam-
since 1994, Johannson was world junior coach Phil Hou- pa Bay, which had the
excited about putting to- sley said Johannson “grew night off.
gether a 25-man roster that our game to new heights.” Colin Miller had a goal and Golden Knights’ Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41), center,
celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with
would include “25 great “In building the teams that two assists, and Marc-An- teammates William Carrier, right, and Oscar Lindberg (24)
stories.” He picked Tony achieved so much success dre Fleury made 27 saves during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 21,
Granato as coach and on for USA Hockey, Jim Jo- for Vegas. The Golden 2018, in Raleigh, N.C.
Jan. 1 unveiled a diverse hannson had a sharp eye Knights finished 2-1-1 on Associated Press
roster made up of players for talent, a strong sense of this road trip, including a scored for the Hurricanes the attention of Darling.
from European profession- chemistry and a relentless 4-1 win Thursday at the late in the first period on a Bellemare put the puck
al leagues, the American pursuit of excellence,” NHL Lightning. Pierre-Edouard power play. Goalie Scott through Darling’s legs for
Hockey League and the commissioner Gary Bett- Bellemare and Brendan Darling was lifted after al- his fifth goal.
NCAA. man said. “As we mourn Leipsic also scored for Ve- lowing three goals on eight Miller and Marchessault
Johannson was proud of his loss, we will remember gas, which avenged a 3-2 shots in the first. scored 39 seconds apart
the unheralded roster, one the positive outlook Jim shootout loss to Carolina in Bellemare scored less than in the first, leading Carolina
that will now try to capture brought to his tireless efforts December. three minutes in, setting the coach Bill Peters to call his
a gold medal for him. to advance USA Hockey.” Neal got his 21st goal of the tone. He took a nifty back team’s timeout.
“I think it would be huge,” Johannson, who played season, and Marchessault pass from William Carrier, He then signaled for Cam
former USA Hockey execu- for the U.S. at the 1988 had his 17th. Jaccob Slavin who drew two skaters and Ward to replace Darling. q