October 23rd, 2021.
Tonight, AHL/NHL linesman Justin Johnson will be working his first NHL Regular Season game in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba when the Nashville Predators will be visiting the Winnipeg Jets. He will be joined on the ice by referees Justin St.Pierre and Peter MacDougall while linesman Ryan Daisy will be working the lines with him.
Johnson, a native of Winnipeg Manitoba began officiating at the age of 13 in the Seven Oaks Minor Hockey Association. He finished playing hockey with the Garden City Gophers of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League. Johnson was introduced to elite levels of officiating by his mentor Kelsey Mahoney who introduced him to resources in leagues within Manitoba to further develop his officiating career. While Johnson served as Referee in Chief of the Seven Oaks Minor Hockey association, he officiated various leagues within Winnipeg while also studying a Bachelors of Commerce degree at the University of Manitoba.
Johnson officiated at the 2019 Western Hockey League (WHL) Cup which allowed him to showcase his abilities which earned him a spot on the officiating roster for the remainder of the 2019-20 WHL season. Shortly after in that same season, Justin made another big step in his officiating journey when he was added to the American Hockey League officiating staff to complete the remaining of the 2019-20 season. Johnson attended the 2021 National Hockey League Officiating Exposure Combine in August where he was offered a NHL Minor Leagues Linesman contract. Johnson credits his family and friends for pushing his development which has resulted in his accomplishment in being hired to the NHL.
The NHLOA and its members would like to congratulate Justin on his first NHL game and wish him a long and successful career.