Lawrence Marshall Johnston[1] (born June 6, 1941) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach and executive. He played as a right winger for the Minnesota North Stars and California Golden Seals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also coached in the NHL for the California Golden Seals, Colorado Rockies, and served as general manager of the Ottawa Senators. He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998.

Marshall Johnston
Born (1941-06-06) June 6, 1941 (age 82)
Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Minnesota North Stars
California Golden Seals
National team  Canada
Playing career 1967–1974
Medal record
Men's Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Grenoble
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Yugoslavia
Bronze medal – third place 1967 Austria

Career edit

Johnston was an All-American player at the University of Denver prior to his NHL career, and later coached the Pioneers from 1977 to 1981. He also represented Canada at the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games, serving as team captain in 1968.[citation needed]

Canada, Czechoslovakia and Sweden finished with identical records of five wins and two losses at the 1964 Winter Olympics. Canada thought they had won the bronze medal based on the goal differential in the three games among the tied countries. When they attended the presentation of the Olympic medals, they were disappointed to learn they had finished in fourth place based on goal differential of all seven games played. The players and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association executives accused that International Ice Hockey Federation president Bunny Ahearne, made a last-minute decision to change the rules and take away a medal from Canada.[2] Later that night, the players gathered in Father David Bauer's room where Johnston summarized the team's feeling that, "The shepherd and his flock have been fleeced".[2][3]

Johnston broke into the NHL as a player during the expansion season of 1967–68. He would play parts of four seasons with the North Stars before moving to the California Golden Seals in 1971–72.[citation needed]

Upon retiring as a player, Johnston served as head coach the Golden Seals from 1973 to 1975 before moving to the NCAA, where he spent six seasons on the coaching staff of the University of Denver, including head coach from 1977 to 1981.[citation needed]

Johnston returned to the NHL in 1981, joining the Colorado Rockies as assistant general manager and assistant coach, soon being promoted to head coach. When the franchise relocated to New Jersey to become the Devils, Johnston remained with the club and was later named Director of Player Personnel, a position he held for ten years.[citation needed]

Johnston then joined the Ottawa Senators organization in 1996 as Director of Player Personnel. In 1999 he was named the club's general manager, replacing the departing Rick Dudley. After three successful seasons at the helm of the Senators, Johnston announced his retirement so he could spend more time with his wife and family.[citation needed]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1957–58 Prince Albert Mintos SJHL 49 20 29 49 21 5 0 0 0 2
1958–59 Prince Albert Mintos SJHL 48 31 24 55 17 5 1 0 1 4
1959–60 University of Denver WCHA
1960–61 University of Denver WCHA 32 11 19 30 4
1961–62 University of Denver WCHA
1962–63 University of Denver WCHA
1963–64 Canadian National Team Intl
1964–65 Winnipeg Monarchs SSHL 2 1 2 3 0
1965–66 Canadian National Team Intl
1966–67 Canadian National Team Intl
1967–68 Winnipeg Nationals WCSHL 5 13 18 10
1968–68 Minnesota North Stars NHL 6 0 0 0 0
1968–69 Cleveland Barons AHL 53 6 20 26 31 5 0 4 4 4
1968–69 Minnesota North Stars NHL 13 0 0 0 2
1969–70 Iowa Stars CHL 50 1 25 26 42
1969–70 Minnesota North Stars NHL 28 0 5 5 14 6 0 0 0 2
1970–71 Cleveland Barons AHL 69 11 45 56 45 8 0 6 6 4
1970–71 Minnesota North Stars NHL 1 0 0 0 0
1971–72 California Golden Seals NHL 74 2 11 13 4
1972–73 California Golden Seals NHL 78 10 20 30 14
1973–74 California Golden Seals NHL 50 2 16 18 24
NHL totals 250 14 52 66 58 6 0 0 0 2

International edit

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1964 Canada OLY 7 0 3 3 6
1966 Canada WC 7 3 3 6 4
1967 Canada WC 7 2 2 4 0
1968 Canada OLY 7 2 6 8 4
Senior totals 28 7 14 21 14

Head coaching record edit

NHL edit

Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L T Pts Finish Result
California Golden Seals 1973–74 21 2 17 2 (36) 8th in West Missed playoffs
California Golden Seals 1974–75 48 11 28 9 (51) 4th in Adams (fired)
Colorado Rockies 1981–82 56 15 32 9 (49) 5th in Smythe Missed playoffs
Total 125 28 77 20

College edit

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Denver Pioneers (WCHA) (1977–1981)
1977–78 Denver 33-6-1 27-5-0 1st WCHA Second Round
1978–79 Denver 20-20-3 14-16-2 6th WCHA First Round
1979–80 Denver 13-22-1 8-17-1 10th
1980–81 Denver 23-15-2 15-11-2 4th WCHA First Round
Denver: 89-63-7 64-49-5
Total: 89-63-7

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Awards and achievements edit

References edit

  1. ^ National Hockey League Guide and Record Book 1974–75 pg. 235
  2. ^ a b O'Connor, Joe (February 14, 2018). "'We got cheated': How the hockey crime of the 20th century cost Canada an Olympic medal". National Post. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  3. ^ Shea, Kevin (March 13, 2009). "Spotlight - One on One with Father David Bauer". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Drinnan, Gregg (May 21, 1998). "IIHF honors pair". The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. p. 19. Retrieved June 30, 2023.

External links edit

Sporting positions
Preceded by Head coach of the California Golden Seals
19741975
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Colorado Rockies
1981–1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by General manager of the Ottawa Senators
19992002
Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by WCHA Coach of the Year
1977–1978
Succeeded by