VHL Throwback: Mats Johnsson

[MWHazard 85]

VHL Throwback: Mats Johnsson

In honor of VHL League History week, let's take a look at the career of the VHL's all-time TPE leader: Mats Johnsson. Johnsson racked up 1,654 TPE in his career, 39 more than any other player has achieved thus far. Johnsson featured very briefly in one playoff game for Oslo in Season 55 before being drafted just 11th overall by Yukon in the Season 56 VHLM Dispersal Draft. Johnsson put up 87 points in 68 games for the Rush in what would be his only full season in the VHLM. Johnsson was selected 12th overall by the now defunct Stockholm Vikings, who had a boatload (get it?) of picks in the second round of the Season 57 Entry Draft.

 

Johnsson had a forgettable opening two years that included a year in Calgary. The first stint would last just a year. Johnsson won the Continental Cup in his third season, Season 59, as a burgeoning top pairing player for the Seattle Bears, and had an even more promising fourth season in the league before. His second stint in Calgary would see his career take off. Johnsson took home four personal awards from Seasons 61 through 63, including two honors as best Defensive Defenseman, one as best Offensive Defenseman, and one as top overall Defenseman. That run also brought him a second Continental Cup, in Season 62. Johnsson was the second-highest scoring defenseman three years running, third-highest the year prior to that streak, and fourth-highest in his final season. You have to wonder how much brighter his legacy would be had he been the top-scoring defenseman some of those seasons. He'll have to settle for a Hall of Fame induction in Season 66.