Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History

Bruce Johnson grew up in Robbinsdale, Minnesota His early experiences in the game of hockey were on the frozen ponds and on outdoor neighborhood rinks. From these early experiences grew a life-long love for the game of hockey. He played high school hockey at Robbinsdale High and his College hockey at Augsburg College for legendary Auggie coach Ed Saugsted.

His coaching career began as a high school sophomore and spans forty plus years, and includes coaching all ages and abilities from mite through college. Bruce began his high school coaching Career at Richfield High School in 1968.  In 1970 Johnson was named the first head coach of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, and served in that position until his retirement in March of 2002. Following retirement from Armstrong, Bruce worked as an assistant coach at Bloomington Jefferson, and assistant coach under former NHL and USHHoF Inductee Gordie Roberts at Elk River High School.

In addition Johnson has served the Armstrong Youth Hockey Association,, Minnesota Hockey (MAHA), and USA Hockey in several coaching capacities including: Armstrong Youth Hockey coach. Mites through Bantams; District 3 Select 15 coach; MAHA Bantam Festival coach; District 3 and Armstrong hockey STP coach: Head coach Minnkota Select 15 Team. Bronze medal winner 1995 USA Hockey National Select 15 Festival; Assistant coach Upper Midwest High School Elite League, and Head coach of the 2005 USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp.

Throughout his career Johnson has also been active in hockey administration from the local, to the State and National levels. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Hockey Conches Association since 1978, serving as President from 1993 to 1995, end Executive Director from 1999 to present. He helped to found and organize the Armstrong Youth Hockey Association, and served as a voting member of the Board until his retirement as Armstrong Heed Hockey Coach in 2002. Bruce has been a member of the Board of Directors of Minnesota Hockey (MAHA) since 1998 serving as the liaison between the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association and Minnesota hockey. Johnson was a member of the Hockey Operations Committee of Minnesota.  Recently, he has worked as a member of the Board of Directors of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, and the High School Elite II program.

Bruce and his wife Lois reside in Plymouth and are parents to three grown children, Leah, Thomas, and Aaron. It can truly be said in the Johnson home; hockey has been and will continue to be a positive shared family experience.