The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Monday, June 7th
Joel Johnson named new head coach at University of St. Thomas
University of Minnesota women's hockey associate head coach Joel Johnson was named the new head coach of the University of St. Thomas women's hockey team earlier today, as that program transitions into NCAA Division I play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association starting in the 2021-2022 season.
Johnson has been part of the Gopher program over two stints spanning 16 combined seasons and 6 of the school's 7 national championships, as an assistant coach from 1999 through 2004 and then as the associate head coach from 2010 through 2021. He also coached in the Bethel University men's hockey program from 2004 through 2010, including 3 seasons as their head coach.
Johnson is also currently serving as interim head coach of the U.S. National Women's Hockey Team as it prepares for the rescheduled 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. He has spent the last 11 seasons with USA Hockey.
The U. of M. also published a press release on the news, with a brief statement from GWH head coach Brad Frost, here.
We send our congratulations and best wishes to Joel as he transitions to this new opportunity and guides the Tommies into Division I, and thank him for his years of service to the University of Minnesota and the Gopher Women's Hockey program.
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Calgary to host 2021 Women's World Championship in August
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), in partnership with Hockey Canada, announced last Wednesday, June 2, that Calgary, Alberta will serve as the new host city for the 2021 Women's World Championship. New event dates of August 20 through 31 were previously announced at the end of April.
The relocation of the tournament to Calgary follows two postponements of the event in its originally-selected host cities of Halifax & Truro, Nova Scotia, due to on-going concerns with COVID-19.
All 31 games of the tournament will be played at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park, though the exact game schedule is to be announced. The championship will feature 10 teams for only the second time, following the expansion from 8 teams after the 2017 tournament.
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