Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/954498
MARCH 2018 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 11 ••••••••• "I always appreciated how genuine he was. He really cared about the players playing for his teams. It was never a business for him. As much as it was -- and putting the best players on the ice—it didn't feel like that." Nick Foligno Columbus Blue Jackets ••••••••• "JJ gave me the opportunity to represent USA and I'll always be thankful to him for that. His fun loving personality was infectious. He went above and beyond to make the USA hockey experience so unforgettable. He will be missed by so many!" Charlie McAvoy Boston Bruins ••••••••• "Shocked and saddened this morning hearing of the passing of Jim Johannson. You will truly be missed at USA Hockey and throughout the hockey world. Thank you JJ for giving me the opportunity to live out a dream of mine. My sincere condolences to his family and friends." Brady Skjei New York Rangers ••••••••• "It's a sad day for the hockey world and everyone involved. What he meant to me, all USA Hockey plaers, the sport of hockey, it's unbelievable what he's done for us. He can't be replaced, and I'm still at a loss for words about it." Zach Werenski Columbus Blue Jackets ••••••••• "My heart is broken to hear the news about Jim Johannson. You were a great man that gave me the opportunity to play for my country. You will be deeply missed by not only USA Hockey but the many others lives you impacted." Pat Maroon Edmonton Oilers ••••••••• "When he was assembling national and Olympic teams for USA Hockey, one of the things that I always noticed is not only did he take as much care in selecting trainers and equipment managers as he did head coaches, but he gave them just as much respect." Dave Ogrean Former USA Hockey Executive ••••••••• "It didn't matter who you were, where you coached, what your title was. JJ always treated me like I was extremely important." Jeff Blashill Detroit Red Wings Head Coach ••••••••• "He left us too early, but we'll carry on his passion and his love for life." Jack Johnson Columbus Blue Jackets ••••••••• "My experience with USA Hockey starts and stops with JJ. He's the first one that got me involved back in '98. JJ had that balance where he could always make it right, there was no dwelling on negativity, it was always back to 'it's gonna be a good day, we're gonna have a good workout.' 20 years ago when I first started, the US was competitive but they weren't winning, they weren't that good. Now the US is at the top of the ladder, they're winning all the time at every level and who do you give credit to? You give it to JJ." David Poile Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager ••••••••• "I don't know if I've ever met a guy who has touched more people with the type of job he had and the humility that he dealt with everyone. When you've got a job of his stature and youre supposed to give people bad news, people are supposed to not like you at some point in time. I don't think anyone didn't like Jim Johannson." David Quinn Boston University Head Coach ••••••••• "For me, in the amount of time I spent with him, I just looked up to him as far as how he treated people. He was kind of a measuring stick for me in the humility that he had, just how he handled situations. I'm so proud of him, I'm just so honored to have been able to work with him and be a friend of his because I looked up to him so much." John Tortorella Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach ••••••••• "Jim was a remarkable person. I've known Jim since I was 13 years old, so 10 years now. He's done so much for me and my career and how it started through USA Hockey and the US development program. He's touched the lives of so many people I know, myself, my borther, my entire family He was always there for us and always did the right thing. We're gonna miss him dearly and I wish his family nothing but the best." Seth Jones Columbus Blue Jackets ••••••••• "Those of us in the hockey industry and even outside of the hockey industry have an obligation now to honor Jim by being good people, by loving the game of hockey, by giving children the opportunity to play and by making sure day in and day out, like Jim did, we do everything we possibly can to do the right thing." Tom Renney Hockey Canada President and CEO "My heart goes out to the Johannson family. I'm lucky enough to be a part of that family since the 80s, and I thank Jimmy for everything he's done for me, participating in all the USA hockey teams. No one was more proud to represent their country than Jimmy, that's for sure. The passion he had for his players and anyone he dealt with was second to none." Chris Chelios USA Hockey Hall of Famer