Kent Johnson (ice hockey)

Did You Know?

• Johnson's mother is originally from Finland and moved to Vancouver at age two.
• His brother, Kyle, played hockey for the Yale Bulldogs from 2018 to 2022.
• Johnson is a devout Christian.

Playing career

Johnson began his junior career with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL in 2018–19, recording 20 goals and 26 points in 57 games. The following season, he posted 41 goals and 60 assists in 52 games, winning the Brett Hull Trophy as the league's leading scorer. He was named BCHL First-Team All-Star, BCHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, BCHL Most Valuable Player, and CJHL Forward of the Year. He joined the Michigan Wolverines for the 2020–21 season. On January 8, 2021, he recorded five points against Michigan State, the first Michigan player to do so since J. T. Compher in 2016, earning Big Ten First Star of the Week honors. He finished his freshman year with nine goals and 18 assists in 26 games, ranking second in Big Ten rookie scoring and third nationally in rookie points per game, and was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. In his sophomore season, he had eight goals and 29 assists in 32 games, finishing fourth nationally in assists per game. Selected fifth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 draft, he signed a three-year entry-level contract on April 8, 2022, and made his NHL debut on April 13, 2022, against the Montreal Canadiens. He recorded three assists in nine games that season. His first NHL goal came on October 22, 2022, against Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins. On July 27, 2024, the Blue Jackets signed him to a three-year, $5.4 million contract extension.

International play

Johnson was selected for Canada's National Junior Team summer development camp in July 2021. He was named to Canada's roster as an alternate for the 2022 Winter Olympics, recording one goal and four assists in five games. At the 2022 IIHF World Championship, he scored a goal in Canada's first preliminary round game, becoming the fourth player in history to score at the World Juniors, Olympics, and Worlds in the same season. He finished with four goals and three assists in ten games, winning a silver medal. He also represented Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, recording three goals and six assists in seven games and scoring the game-winning overtime goal to help Canada win gold.