Aces trade for Mr. Major - Justin Johnson
Published on August 3, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Aces have acquired the rights to winger Justin Johnson from Cincinnati in exchange for the rights to defenseman Doug Krantz, whose rights had been obtained from Wheeling last winter in the trade that sent Bo Cheesman to Wheeling.
Johnson, who grew up in Anchorage and played four years at UAA, blossomed last year in his third full professional season, establishing new career-highs with 13 goals, 10 assists, 23 points, and a league-leading 259 minutes in penalties. The 28-year-old Johnson also led the ECHL with 31 fighting majors and scored twice in a 10-4 pounding of the Nailers Jan. 14, eventually helping the Cyclones advance to the 2009 American Conference finals. In 13 playoff games for the 2008 Kelly Cup champions, he contributed two goals and four assists.
Johnson actually began his pro career and registered his first career point as a member of the Aces, playing four games at the end of the 2005-06 regular season on a team that went on to capture the 2006 Kelly Cup. In 2007-08, the 6-1, 220-pounder scored three of his eight goals for Utah (where he was a teammate of current Alaska captain Scott Burt) against Alaska and helped the Grizzlies reach the National Conference finals that season. Meanwhile, Krantz had been placed on Alaska's season-ending roster but never played a game for the team. He also was one of eight Aces to receive a qualifying offer from the club (along with fellow defensemen Ryan Turek, Nick Tuzzolino, and Tyson Marsh, forwards Jordan Foreman, Matt Stefanishion, and Brett Hemingway, and goaltender J.P. Lamoureux). Lamoureux, the reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Year, signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres last Thursday after participating in Buffalo's development camp earlier in July. His ECHL rights remain with Alaska.
The Aces open the 2009-10 regular season at home against Victoria Oct. 16, 17 and 19, with all three games scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. start. Pre-season games against Kalamazoo at Sullivan Arena have been scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8 at 7:15 p.m. In their annual Vote4TheBest poll conducted by MLN Sports in June, Anchorage's Sullivan Arena (home of the Aces) finished 10th among the top minor league venues in professional sports. Stockton Arena (home of the ECHL Thunder) finished second while Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, TX, repeated in the top spot. For those interested in Aces season tickets or corporate sponsorship information, regular office hours at the corner of 15th and Gambell are Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
ECHL Stories from August 3, 2009
- Aces trade for Mr. Major - Justin Johnson - Alaska Aces
- Cyclones Trade For Alaska's Doug Krantz - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Condors Care-A-Van to Taft this Thursday - Bakersfield Condors
- Gladiators Ink Northern Michigan Pair - Atlanta Gladiators
- Nailers Re-Sign Andrew Lord - Wheeling Nailers
- Ian Herbers Promoted to AHL - Johnstown Chiefs
- Royals Town Hall Meeting Reminder - Reading Royals
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