University of Minnesota Athletics
Johnson Named Assistant Coach on U.S. U18 Team
6/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Gopher women's hockey assistant coach Joel Johnson has been selected as an assistant coach on the United States Under-18 Team for the 2011-12 season. Johnson will assist Connecticut's head coach Heather Linstad, while also working with Northeastern's assistant Hilary Witt.
The 2011-12 season includes the USA Hockey Women's National Festival (Aug. 10-17/Blaine, Minn.) and the 2011 Women's Under-18 Series, a three-game competition against Canada (Aug. 18-21/Ontario), and culminates with the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U18 Championship, which will be held in the Czech Republic in early January. Team USA will look to defend its world title at the event.
Johnson returns for his second-straight year behind the Gopher bench. After a six-year hiatus at Bethel University, Johnson returned to the Gopher women's hockey staff last summer. Coaching the Minnesota defense, Johnson coached the likes of First Team All-WCHA member Anne Schleper, Third Team All-WCHA Megan Bozek and WCHA Rookie Team honoree, Baylee Gillanders. Prior to his 2010-11 return, Johnson was on the Gopher coaching staff from 1999-2004 and helped the Gophers to two national championships in 2000 and 2004.
