Top American players honor USA Hockey executive's legacy in 'great show'

PLYMOUTH - Many of the NHL's best American-born hockey players donated their time and money to travel to metro Detroit on a late summer weekend to participate in a charity game.

The Stars & Stripes Showdown wasn't your ordinary exhibition. It honored Jim Johansson, a long-time USA Hockey executive who touched most of their lives in some way.

Johansson died unexpectedly at age 53 in January. He spent two decades as assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. He had a profound affect on the sport in the U.S., as witnessed by the turnout at USA Hockey Arena that included stars such as Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, Seth Jones and a contingent of Detroit Red Wings - Dylan Larkin, Justin Abdelkader. Jimmy Howard and Luke Glendening.

The game benefited both the Jim Johannson Legacy Fund of The USA Hockey Foundation and the Ellie Johannson College Fund.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, who stood behind the White Team bench, called it a great show.

"I hope in my life that I have an impact on people the way J.J. had an impact on people for all these players to show up," Blashill said. "I don't know if people understand what a big deal it is that elite-level players throughout the NHL came back to honor him. That doesn't happen very often. You can talk about it and say you're going to do it, but for it actually to come to fruition, this speaks to the impact he had on people. He was an unbelievable human being. When you were around him, you felt good about yourself. I just thought it was a great tribute to him."

Larkin led efforts to organize the event after the idea was hatched at the World Championship in May. That's where Team USA members awarded a hard hat to a player or staff member after each practice and game in honor of Johannson, whom Larkin described as a "warm, kind-hearted person, just a friendly guy."

"This is a great way for us to do what we love to do and raise money for his family and his foundation," Larkin said. "It speaks volumes for the kind of person J.J. was to have all these guys fly out."

Pat Kelleher, executive director for USA Hockey, credited Larkin for "leading the charge to get people here."

"I think Dylan's a special guy," Kelleher said. "He loves to represent USA Hockey in any way and I think this was another way for him to take a leadership role."

Larkin said players were donating to the foundation while in the dressing room.

"It's awesome for Jim Johannson's family to see the turnout, and to see the players and the commitment they made to get here, whether driving or flying in," Abdelkader said. "He had that big of an impact on USA Hockey. I see him almost as Mr. USA Hockey. He was just around for everything. The first time you met him, you just kind of felt like you knew him your whole life. He made you feel at home. He made you feel comfortable. Obviously, we miss him, but this is a great way to honor him and obviously help his daughters and his wife."

Said Howard: "J.J. was very special. In one way or another he helped every single guy in that dressing room."

Johannson's widow, Abby Tompkins, was overwhelmed by the support.

"The fact that players organized it made it even more meaningful," Tompkins said. "Just such a special day and something I know he would have been very proud of the guys for pulling this together and everyone taking their time out of the day. I think he would have been slightly embarrassed that it was him they were doing it for, but I think he would have been really, really proud of the people in general."

Team Blue defeated Team White 14-9 before a sellout crowd of 3,890. Larkin scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot, and picked up two assists while Glendening scored twice for Team Blue. Abdelkader scored for Team White.

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