Larry Johnston | |||
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Born |
Kitchener, ON, CAN |
July 20, 1943 ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for |
Los Angeles Kings Detroit Red Wings Kansas City Scouts Colorado Rockies |
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Playing career | 1963–1977 |
Larry Stuart Roy Johnston (born July 20, 1943 in Kitchener, Ontario) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for over 14 years in seven different hockey leagues. He spent the most time with the Springfield Indians/Kings of the American Hockey League and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, where he served a short term as Captain.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Johnston in 1965. Johnston had spent the previous two seasons playing for the Johnstown Jets of the EHL and the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League (CHL). Johnston was traded to the American Hockey League's Springfield Indians for Bruce Gamble. The hockey club was purchased by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and renamed the Springfield Kings. In the 1967–68 season he made four appearances with the Los Angeles Kings, picking up four penalty minutes and a −7 plus/minus rating. He wouldn't reach the NHL again for three more seasons.
In 1969, he was named the most valuable player in Springfield and also led the AHL in penalty minutes in 1968 and 1969. With his increased value, Johnston was traded by Los Angeles to the Detroit Red Wings along with Dale Rolfe and Gary Croteau for Garry Monahan, Brian Gibbons and Matt Ravlich on February 20, 1970. He started in the CHL with the Fort Worth Wings before quickly moving back up to the AHL with the Baltimore Clippers.