Good Ole Mark Johnson, he played center for the 1980 Olympic hockey team and in a strange twist of fate he coached the 2010 women's hockey Olympic team. Mark "Magic" Johnson was born on September 22, 1957 in Minneapolis Minnesota but was raised in Madison Wisconsin. Mark played for the University of Wisconsin for three years. While he was there his dad, Bob Johnson, was the coach. In 1977 (his first year at the university) the team won the NCAA national championship and Mark won rookie of the year. He was also the schools 2ND all time scorer and a 2 time all American. In 1976 he played 11 training games with the US national team for the Olympics. In all he played in at least 8 world Championships, 3 Canada cups and 2 Olympics (including 1980). In the Miracle on ice game of 1980 Johnson scored 2 of the 4 goals, 1 of the goals caused the soviet
coach to pull the goalie from the game. One thing I wondered is if Johnson kept the puck? You see coach told the boys that if you scored on the Soviet goalie you need to keep the puck because it doesn't happen that often, if at all. After the Olympics Mark went on to play in the NHL for 5 teams including the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh penguins. Since then Mark has become coach Johnson! He coaches at the university he used to play for but he coaches the women's team there. Before being the head coach for the women he was assistant coach for the men for about 6 years. In 2006 he was named the head coach for the American women's hockey team and in 2010 he lead the team to a silver medal loosing of course to Canada! In the 1981 made for T.V. movie he was played by Michael Cummings then in the 2004 movie Miracle he was played by Eric Peter-Kaiser. Eric and Mark were so much a like that Mark's wife told them they were freaking her out because they were so much alike. I think that is a HUGE compliment! SO Coach Johnson, I thank you for inspiring the country in 1980, and then coaching our girls in 2010. Best of luck to you in the future.
coach to pull the goalie from the game. One thing I wondered is if Johnson kept the puck? You see coach told the boys that if you scored on the Soviet goalie you need to keep the puck because it doesn't happen that often, if at all. After the Olympics Mark went on to play in the NHL for 5 teams including the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh penguins. Since then Mark has become coach Johnson! He coaches at the university he used to play for but he coaches the women's team there. Before being the head coach for the women he was assistant coach for the men for about 6 years. In 2006 he was named the head coach for the American women's hockey team and in 2010 he lead the team to a silver medal loosing of course to Canada! In the 1981 made for T.V. movie he was played by Michael Cummings then in the 2004 movie Miracle he was played by Eric Peter-Kaiser. Eric and Mark were so much a like that Mark's wife told them they were freaking her out because they were so much alike. I think that is a HUGE compliment! SO Coach Johnson, I thank you for inspiring the country in 1980, and then coaching our girls in 2010. Best of luck to you in the future.
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