University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

Minnesota Crookston is led by one of the top junior hockey coaches of all-time, and a familiar name in the national hockey community, Steve Johnson. Johnson has been a NCAA Division I assistant coach, and has led USHL teams to the Clark Cup four times, with two Clark Cup titles. Johnson was a three-time USHL Coach of the Year. In addition, Johnson was an all-time great hockey player for the University of North Dakota, helping UND to a national title in 1987.

In his first season as head coach, Johnson led the Golden Eagles to a 6-7 mark and a No. 20 national ranking in the ACHA Division II poll. UMN Crookston picked up wins over nationally ranked University of Jamestown. He helped lead the Golden Eagles into being invited to join the prestigious WCCHA conference in ACHA. In addition, Johnson coached Casey Kallock to an ACHA All-America Second Team nod. 

In 2021-2022, Johnson coached the Golden Eagles to a 15-10-2 record. The team also played three games in the WCCHA tournament, defeating Gustavus Adolphus College finishing 6 in the conference. 

Johnson coached the team to an outstanding 23-8-1 record in 2022-2023, finishing #6 in the Central Rankings. Johnson also coached the team to two wins in the WCCHA Tournament where they had their best finish so far with a 3rd place finish and one win in the ACHA Division II Central Region Tournament, just missing the national tournament by 1 game, defeating Michigan State University. Johnson coached forward Logan Syrup and defenseman Jake Huska to All-WCCHA First Team honors with Syrup being named ACHA Central Region Third Team honors. In addition, forwards Tyler Zahradka, Jackson Fuller, and defenseman Casey Kallock made the WCCHA Third Team All-Conference. Jared Aamold racked up WCCHA Honorable Mentions.

Johnson led the Maroon and Gold squad to its best season in 2023-2024 with a 25-5-2 record. The Golden Eagles finished second in the WCCHA with an overtime loss in the conference final game. They finished ranked #5 in the ACHA Central Region, the highest the Crookston squad has been ranked in this new era of ACHA hockey. Their season ended with a semi final loss in the ACHA Central Region tournament against Maryville University. Johnson received the WCCHA Coach of the Year award as he led his team to a 12-3-1 record in the conference and a second place finish in the northwest division. He led a handful of players to WCCHA all conference teams as well. Forward Anthony Foster and defenseman Jake Huska picked up First Team All-Conference awards. Forward Logan Syrup made another all-conference team with the Second Team All-Conference. Adam Goody collected two awards with the Third Team All-Conference and All-Rookie First Team. Captain Jackson Fuller received Honorable Mention award and to wrap it up, Nathan Ayotte made the All-Rookie Second Team.

With a younger roster, coach Johnson had himself an interesting season while still competing at the golden standard that he has instill in his squads over the year. Finishing with a 22-8-2 record, Johnson led his team to another WCCHA tournament appearance with a 4th place finish. The Golden Eagles finish with a #10 rank in the Central Region and won two games, but unfortunately fell short in the final game of the tournament in an overtime loss against Marryvile University. Mason Romfo was named to the ACHA 2nd team All-Athletic and ACHA 1st team All-Region. Anthony Foster added another achievement to his growing resume with the ACHA 3rd team All-Region award. Lastly, Williston State Teton transfer, Alexander Bailey made the shortlist with his teammate Mason Romfo for the 1st team All-Region Award. 

Johnson came to Minnesota Crookston after most recently serving as the Hockey Director for Grand Forks Youth Hockey. Prior to returning to his hometown of Grand Forks, N.D., Johnson served as an assistant for the 2012-13 season at the University of Nebraska Omaha for Dean Blais, where he helped the Mavericks to a 19-18-2 mark.

Before making the move to Omaha, Johnson was an assistant coach for two seasons at St. Cloud State University. While with the Huskies during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons under current University of Minnesota Head Coach Bob Motzko, Johnson helped the Huskies to a 22-25-10 mark.

Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Johnson etched himself as one of the best hockey coaches in United States Hockey league (USHL) history. During the 2009-10 season, he took over a Fargo Force team from his former assistant coach at UND, Blais, and led them to the 2010 Clark Cup Finals with a 37-17-6 mark. He also served as team General Manager.

 Johnson made a name for himself in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars, as in the program's inaugural season in 1996-97 he led the team to a Clark Cup title with a 40-13-1 mark. Johnson would spend 11 seasons behind the bench with the Stars, guiding the team to another Clark Cup title during the 2002-03 season. Additionally, Johnson led the team to three regular-season USHL titles, as they claimed the Anderson Cup during the 1999-00, 2000-01, and 2002-03 seasons. His Lincoln Stars won 30-or more games in nine seasons and reached 40 or more wins four times.

He got his start in the USHL with the Fargo-Moorhead Bears during the 1995-96 season, leading the team to a 27-18-1 record earning USHL Coach of the Year recognition. As a USHL coach, Johnson accumulated a 470-223-54 marks, ranking fourth in league history for career wins.

As a player, Johnson was a stand-out on the ice for UND recording 191 careers points in 153 games. Johnson ranks seventh all-time in career points. He also remains tied sixth in assists all-time with 121. He helped North Dakota to the 1987 NCAA Championship under Gino Gasparini. Johnson was a Hobey Baker Finalist as a senior, scoring 85 points in 42 games. He was also selected as a Division I All-American and was named WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year in 1988.

Johnson was a 1987 NHL draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks and played professionally for two seasons in the International Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals and the Phoenix Roadrunners. Johnson helped lead USA hockey to a silver medal at the Goodwill Games in 1990.

Johnson is married to Nancy and has a daughter Ellie, 33, who is a recruiter for the University of North Dakota. His son Luke, 31, plays hockey for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Russia, in the KHL and played for UND. His other son Max, 25, had a two year stint playing D3 hockey at Hamline University and Concordia University. He is currently an assistant coach for the hockey team at Red River High School in Grand Forks N.D..

The Minnesota Crookston hockey program is a competitive travel club hockey program competing in the ACHA, and will be run out of the Golden Eagle athletics department.