The late Jim Johnson earned his place on the Lakehead Athletics Wall of Fame last Saturday in the Builders category after making many valuable contributions to the Lakehead University and Thunder Bay hockey communities.
An adopted son and pillar of the Thunder Bay community, 63-year-old Johnson succumbed to brain cancer in June 2008.
Johnson served as the first president and director of hockey operations for Lakehead Thunderwolves Hockey when CIS hockey returned to Thunder Bay during the 2001-2002 season. He held his roles with the team until 2005.
In 2000, Johnson was approached by Lakehead University Athletics Director Tom Warden and was asked to contribute to the Thunderwolves program, to be modelled after the Quebec-based and financially successful Laval University football team. Not only did he become the programs lead investor, but he also helped gather other local investors who contributed seed money to become part owners of Thunderwolves Hockey.
Lakehead University President, Dr. Fred Gilbert, arrived at the University in 1998 with the vision to bring CIS hockey back to Thunder Bay. He reflected on Johnsons contributions during a 2008 interview with Lakehead Athletics.
Jim was key to mobilizing community support for Thunderwolves Hockey, Gilbert states. As with everything else that he committed to doing in this city, Jim threw his energy and passion into making it happen.
Thunderwolves Hockey was an immediate success in Thunder Bay when it joined the OUA. The team stood at 19-17-3 in its inaugural season and reached the OUA West semi-finals. Most impressively, the majority of the teams home games sold out at the Fort William Gardens an unprecedented feat in Canadian university hockey.
Johnsons connection to Thunder Bay began in the early 1970s. After graduating in 1966 with a business degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Johnson studied law at York Universitys Osgoode Hall Law School until 1969. Soon after, Johnson and his wife, Judy, moved to Thunder Bay where Jim became a successful lawyer.
Johnson was a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Thunder Bay Law Association. He helped create Ambassadors Northwest, a group of local businessmen that aimed to bring new businesses to Thunder Bay. He earned the Charles J. Carter award from the Chamber of Commerce in April 2008 in recognition of his numerous contributions to the citys economy.
As an enthusiastic hockey dad, Johnson helped coach his kids on the ice. He was also a major contributor in creating the Thunder Bay Kings AAA program and the Tournament Centre. This December, the Varsity Cup Challenge, an event jointly hosted by the Lakehead University Thunderwolves and the Thunder Bay Kings, will be held in Johnsons honour.
In addition to Johnsons many roles, he was also a registered player agent with the National Hockey League Players Association. All three of his sons Greg, Ryan, and Corey, played collegiate hockey at the University of North Dakota. Greg and Ryan went on to play in the NHL.
In June 2004, the Chronicle-Journal recognized Johnsons contributions to local hockey in naming him to a list of the 20 most influential sports figures in Thunder Bay. Ever humble, Johnson joked with Northern Ontario Business, Im not influential at all. I cant even get what I want around the house. But Johnson did, in fact, accomplish a great deal for Thunder Bay both on and off the ice. Today, Thunderwolves Hockey trails only the Laval Rouge et Or football team in annual home game attendance among all CIS varsity sports teams.
Shortly after Johnsons passing, Lakehead Athletics Director Tom Warden, said the former Thunderwolves president and director of hockey operations made a determined effort to help bring CIS hockey back to Lakehead University.
When Jim put his mind to something, he got it done, Warden explains. Ive honestly never met anyone else like him. He was an amazing person.
Johnson never took credit for his immeasurable contributions to the University or to Thunder Bay. In a 2004 interview, he said he owed his work to the community that gave him and his family a great life.
All my kids have been born and brought up here, he said. All the success theyve achieved is a result of this community. My commitment is the debt I owe to this community.
Jim is survived by his wife, Judy, his sons, Greg, Ryan, and Corey, his daughter, Sarah, and several grandchildren.