University of Minnesota Athletics
Erik Johnson Signs Contract with the St. Louis Blues
4/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Golden Gopher defenseman Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn.) has decided to forgo his final three years of eligibility and has signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.
“Erik was immediately an impact player in our program and was a major reason we were able to win WCHA Regular Season and Playoff Championships this past season,” Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia said. “He is certainly one of the most talented defensemen I have ever had the privilege of coaching. It is always bittersweet when a player leaves our program, but there is no doubt in my mind that Erik will have a terrific career in the NHL. I wish him a lot of success at the next level.”
A 6-4, 220-pound defenseman, Johnson earned WCHA All-Rookie Team honors after leading the conference’s rookie blueliners in scoring with totals of 4-20--24 in 41 games. Johnson finished third among Minnesota defenseman and seventh on the team in scoring. Owning four multi-point games on the season, Johnson led the team in blocked shots. The top overall draft pick of the St. Louis Blues at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson owned a plus/minus rating of +8 and had three assists on game-winning goals this past season. In January, Johnson was named the best defenseman at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship, leading the U.S. with four goals and six assists in seven games.
At the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson became the first Golden Gopher and Minnesotan ever taken No. 1 overall in the NHL Entry Draft. He also became the first defenseman since Chris Phillips in 1996 to be drafted first overall, the first blueliner with college hockey ties to be chosen No. 1, the second U.S.-born defenseman to go to the No. 1 pick and the fifth U.S.-born player to be drafted first overall. Johnson also became the third University of Minnesota student-athlete to be selected first overall in a professional draft after Mychal Thmpson was tabbed as the first pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and Janel McCarville went No. 1 in the 2005 WNBA Draft to the Charlotte Sting.
Johnson entered the draft after two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. A member of the NTDP Under-18 Team this past season, Johnson finished fifth on the team in scoring with 16-33--49 in 47 games. In April, he helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Sweden. Johnson also represented the U.S. at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship early this year in Canada. Prior to his time at the NTDP, Johnson attended the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., during his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2003-04, he had 13-21--34 in 31 games and was named Missota All-Conference during the Stars’ consolation championship season. Johnson had 2-9--11 during his freshman season to help Holy Angels to third place at the state tournament.
Johnson is the first Golden Gopher defenseman to give up remaining eligibility to play professional hockey since Keith Ballard signed a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes following his 2003-04 junior season.
For more information on Johnson’s signing, visit the official website of the St. Louis Blues at www.stlouisblues.com.
Erik Johnson Bio
2006-07 Freshman Season
Appeared in 41 games, including 27 WCHA contests had totals of 4-20--24 to rank seventh on the team overall, and third among defensemen and freshmen had 2-11--13 in league games named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team missed three games from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5 while playing for Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden led the team in blocked shots and ranked tied for second in shots (117) had three assists on game-winning goals ranked second on the team in penalties had five multi-point games on the season got his first career point with an assist in the 7-1 win over Wayne State scored his first career goal and added a helper in the 7-2 win at Ohio State (10/20) notched his first career two assist game, including one on the game-winner, in the 8-1 win over Colorado College (10/28) had two assists in the 5-5 tie vs. St. Cloud State (11/10) had two helpers, including one on the game-winner, in the 8-2 win over Michigan (11/25) assisted on the game-winner in the 4-1 win at Michigan Tech (12/8) recorded a team season-high 10 shots on goal in the 1-0 loss to Denver (1/19) had 1-1--2 in the series against North Dakota (1/26-27) had two assists in the 6-2 win over Alaska Anchorage in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs (3/9) scored the first goal in the 3-2 overtime win over North Dakota in the title game of the WCHA Final Five (3/17) owned a +8 rating had 1-3--4 in seven postseason games was paired with Derek Peltier for the majority of the season.
High School
Spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. finished fifth on the NTDP Under-18 Team in scoring with 16 goals and 33 assists in 47 games in 2005-06 led all defensemen in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes with 88 led all blueliners and was second on the team with a 1.04 points per game average played in 20 of 22 games against NCAA teams led all defensemen in points against NCAA opponents with 6-9--15 helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Sweden this past April had totals of 4-6--10 and was a +6 in six games at the tournament also helped the U.S. to a fourth-place finish at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in Canada played 42 games with the Under-17 team and 15 games with the Under-18 Team in 2004-05, posting totals of 11-15--26 in 57 games his 26 points led all USNDT blueliners had four points in four games (1-3--4) to win a gold medal with Team USA at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship helped lead the U.S. to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup in Rochester, N.Y., with 1-3--4 in four games graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School played his prep hockey at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., during his freshman and sophomore seasons head coach was Greg Trebil had 13-21--34 in 31 games during his sophomore year was named St. Paul Pioneer Press all-state honorable mention and Missota All-Conference helped the Stars to the conference title and consolation championship had 2-9--11 during his freshman season to help Holy Angels to third place at the state tournament was a teammate at Holy Angels with current Golden Gophers Jay Barriball, Mike Carman and Jeff Frazee drafted by the St. Louis Blues with the first overall pick of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft became the first Golden Gopher and Minnesotan ever taken No. 1 overall in the NHL Entry Draft also became the first defenseman since Chris Phillips in 1996 to be drafted first overall, the first blueliner with college hockey ties to be chosen No. 1, the second U.S.-born defenseman to go to the No. 1 pick and the fifth U.S.-born player to be drafted first overall became the third University of Minnesota student-athlete to be selected first overall in a professional draft after Mychal Thmpson was tabbed as the first pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and Janel McCarville went No. 1 in the 2005 WNBA Draft to the Charlotte Sting became the first player in 44 years of the NHL Draft to play college hockey after being selected No. 1 overall also became the first No. 1 pick to wait a season to turn pro since Chris Phillips was taken first overall in 1996, but did not sign a pro contract until the 1997-98 season invited to the 2006 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.
Personal
Lists fishing, watersports and playing cards as hobbies lists winning back-to-back gold medals at the IIHFWorld Under-18 Championship as his most memorable sports thrill son of Bruce and Peggy Johnson his great uncle, Ken Yackel, Sr., played for the Golden Gophers fom 1951-56 and was a first team All-American in 1954 born March 21, 1988.
“Erik was immediately an impact player in our program and was a major reason we were able to win WCHA Regular Season and Playoff Championships this past season,” Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia said. “He is certainly one of the most talented defensemen I have ever had the privilege of coaching. It is always bittersweet when a player leaves our program, but there is no doubt in my mind that Erik will have a terrific career in the NHL. I wish him a lot of success at the next level.”
A 6-4, 220-pound defenseman, Johnson earned WCHA All-Rookie Team honors after leading the conference’s rookie blueliners in scoring with totals of 4-20--24 in 41 games. Johnson finished third among Minnesota defenseman and seventh on the team in scoring. Owning four multi-point games on the season, Johnson led the team in blocked shots. The top overall draft pick of the St. Louis Blues at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson owned a plus/minus rating of +8 and had three assists on game-winning goals this past season. In January, Johnson was named the best defenseman at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship, leading the U.S. with four goals and six assists in seven games.
At the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson became the first Golden Gopher and Minnesotan ever taken No. 1 overall in the NHL Entry Draft. He also became the first defenseman since Chris Phillips in 1996 to be drafted first overall, the first blueliner with college hockey ties to be chosen No. 1, the second U.S.-born defenseman to go to the No. 1 pick and the fifth U.S.-born player to be drafted first overall. Johnson also became the third University of Minnesota student-athlete to be selected first overall in a professional draft after Mychal Thmpson was tabbed as the first pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and Janel McCarville went No. 1 in the 2005 WNBA Draft to the Charlotte Sting.
Johnson entered the draft after two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. A member of the NTDP Under-18 Team this past season, Johnson finished fifth on the team in scoring with 16-33--49 in 47 games. In April, he helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Sweden. Johnson also represented the U.S. at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship early this year in Canada. Prior to his time at the NTDP, Johnson attended the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., during his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2003-04, he had 13-21--34 in 31 games and was named Missota All-Conference during the Stars’ consolation championship season. Johnson had 2-9--11 during his freshman season to help Holy Angels to third place at the state tournament.
Johnson is the first Golden Gopher defenseman to give up remaining eligibility to play professional hockey since Keith Ballard signed a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes following his 2003-04 junior season.
For more information on Johnson’s signing, visit the official website of the St. Louis Blues at www.stlouisblues.com.
Erik Johnson Bio
2006-07 Freshman Season
Appeared in 41 games, including 27 WCHA contests had totals of 4-20--24 to rank seventh on the team overall, and third among defensemen and freshmen had 2-11--13 in league games named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team missed three games from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5 while playing for Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden led the team in blocked shots and ranked tied for second in shots (117) had three assists on game-winning goals ranked second on the team in penalties had five multi-point games on the season got his first career point with an assist in the 7-1 win over Wayne State scored his first career goal and added a helper in the 7-2 win at Ohio State (10/20) notched his first career two assist game, including one on the game-winner, in the 8-1 win over Colorado College (10/28) had two assists in the 5-5 tie vs. St. Cloud State (11/10) had two helpers, including one on the game-winner, in the 8-2 win over Michigan (11/25) assisted on the game-winner in the 4-1 win at Michigan Tech (12/8) recorded a team season-high 10 shots on goal in the 1-0 loss to Denver (1/19) had 1-1--2 in the series against North Dakota (1/26-27) had two assists in the 6-2 win over Alaska Anchorage in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs (3/9) scored the first goal in the 3-2 overtime win over North Dakota in the title game of the WCHA Final Five (3/17) owned a +8 rating had 1-3--4 in seven postseason games was paired with Derek Peltier for the majority of the season.
High School
Spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. finished fifth on the NTDP Under-18 Team in scoring with 16 goals and 33 assists in 47 games in 2005-06 led all defensemen in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes with 88 led all blueliners and was second on the team with a 1.04 points per game average played in 20 of 22 games against NCAA teams led all defensemen in points against NCAA opponents with 6-9--15 helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Sweden this past April had totals of 4-6--10 and was a +6 in six games at the tournament also helped the U.S. to a fourth-place finish at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in Canada played 42 games with the Under-17 team and 15 games with the Under-18 Team in 2004-05, posting totals of 11-15--26 in 57 games his 26 points led all USNDT blueliners had four points in four games (1-3--4) to win a gold medal with Team USA at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship helped lead the U.S. to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup in Rochester, N.Y., with 1-3--4 in four games graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School played his prep hockey at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., during his freshman and sophomore seasons head coach was Greg Trebil had 13-21--34 in 31 games during his sophomore year was named St. Paul Pioneer Press all-state honorable mention and Missota All-Conference helped the Stars to the conference title and consolation championship had 2-9--11 during his freshman season to help Holy Angels to third place at the state tournament was a teammate at Holy Angels with current Golden Gophers Jay Barriball, Mike Carman and Jeff Frazee drafted by the St. Louis Blues with the first overall pick of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft became the first Golden Gopher and Minnesotan ever taken No. 1 overall in the NHL Entry Draft also became the first defenseman since Chris Phillips in 1996 to be drafted first overall, the first blueliner with college hockey ties to be chosen No. 1, the second U.S.-born defenseman to go to the No. 1 pick and the fifth U.S.-born player to be drafted first overall became the third University of Minnesota student-athlete to be selected first overall in a professional draft after Mychal Thmpson was tabbed as the first pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and Janel McCarville went No. 1 in the 2005 WNBA Draft to the Charlotte Sting became the first player in 44 years of the NHL Draft to play college hockey after being selected No. 1 overall also became the first No. 1 pick to wait a season to turn pro since Chris Phillips was taken first overall in 1996, but did not sign a pro contract until the 1997-98 season invited to the 2006 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.
Personal
Lists fishing, watersports and playing cards as hobbies lists winning back-to-back gold medals at the IIHFWorld Under-18 Championship as his most memorable sports thrill son of Bruce and Peggy Johnson his great uncle, Ken Yackel, Sr., played for the Golden Gophers fom 1951-56 and was a first team All-American in 1954 born March 21, 1988.
Players Mentioned
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