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Jim Johannson - Director of Hockey Ops

Bio

Jim Johannson is USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations.

He has been the general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team for the past seven years, having helped guide Team USA to gold medals at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia and the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Also, Team USA won a bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York. Overall, he has served on the staff of 14 U.S. National Junior Teams.

A two-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992), Johannson brings extensive experience in international ice hockey both as a player and administrator. He was the assistant executive director of hockey operations for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. He was on the management team for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that won the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition, he served as the senior director of hockey operations for Team USA at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, and was the team leader for the silver medal-winning 2002 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Johannson has been on the staff of 17 consecutive U.S. Men’s National Teams, including the 2013 squad that won the bronze medal in Stockholm, Sweden. He was previously part of the staff at the IIHF Men’s World Championship for six years as team leader (1999-2004), two as assistant general manager (2005-06), one as senior director of hockey operations (2007) and six as assistant executive director of hockey operations (2008-14).

The lead administrator in hosting the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Johannson also served as team leader for the gold medal-winning 2004 U.S. National Junior Team in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland.

A full-time employee of USA Hockey, Johannson joined the organization on Sept. 1, 2000, as manager of international activities and U.S. Olympic Committee relations. He was promoted to senior director of hockey operations, a newly created position, on August 5, 2003. On June 25, 2007, Johannson was elevated to assistant executive director of hockey operations. He is responsible for the day-to-day management and integration of all in-sport related initiatives. He handles USA Hockey representation in obtaining players and coaches for national teams in international competition. In addition, Johannson interfaces with the USOC on matters of mutual interest.

A former U.S. Men’s National Team member, Johannson spent five years (1995-2000) as the general manager of the Twin Cities Vulcans, a Junior A team in the United States Hockey League. Under his guidance, the Vulcans captured the 2000 USA Hockey Junior A National Championship in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Johannson, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, played nine seasons in the International Hockey League, splitting time among three teams. Prior to embarking on his professional career, Johannson played at the University of Wisconsin, where he helped the Badgers capture the 1983 NCAA Division I national championship.

Johannson, who resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Abby, is ranked among the top 50 people of power and influence in hockey by The Hockey News.