| abstract | - Justin A. Johnson (born May 5, 1981) is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He has previously played for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League and the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. From 2002-06, Johnson played for the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In 143 games had 13-22-35 totals with 147 penalty minutes. Immediately after his senior year concluded, Johnson suited up for his hometown Alaska Aces playing in 4 games. In the 2006-07 season he played 4 games with the Aces before being traded to the Idaho Steelheads where he was in 12 games, racking up 27 minutes in the box. He had his first full professional season in 2007-08 appearing in 57 games for the Utah Grizzlies and reaching 118 in penalty minutes. He split the 2008-09 season with the Grizzlies and the Cincinnati Cyclones playing in 59 games along with 259 penalty minutes. In the 2009-10 season the Aces winger had 249 penalty minutes with only 7 points.On October 7, 2010, the Manchester Monarchs signed Johnson to a professional tryout agreement. For the next three seasons he played in 103 games and spending a total of 392 minutes in the box with 11 points. On August 2, 2013, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers signed Johnson to a one-year AHL contract. In the following 2013–14 season, Johnson was a fixture on the Sound Tigers in adding toughness to the forward lines. On March 3, 2013, Johnson was signed to NHL contract with parent affiliate, the New York Islanders, for the remainder of the season. On April 11, 2014, Johnson made his long awaited NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. In his second game, he dropped the gloves with John Scott, one of the most feared enforcers in the NHL. Smaller than Scott by 7 inches and 60 pounds, Johnson dropped the Sabres resident tough guy with a hard right jab. It was described as a "David and Goliath matchup" by a New Jersey Devils commentator. Scott and Johnson both played in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association during the same time span. Despite making his NHL debut, Johson went into the off-season as a free agent. Unable to earn another NHL contract after his short 2 game stint, Johnson returned to his hometown team, the Alaska Aces of the ECHL on a one-year deal on September 23, 2014. So far, in the 2015-16 season Johnson has only appeared in 8 games for the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs AHL affiliate.
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