STMA Knights & North Wright County River Hawks

River Hawks Welcome Head Coach Jason Johnson!

Jason Johnson, a teacher at Big Woods Elementary, has been in the STMA area for 15 years. He is starting his 12th year of teaching.  He taught first grade for 11 years and spent one year teaching second grade.

Johnson’s wife, Rachel, teaches at Albertville Primary.  They have three children:  JP a third grader, Jack a kindergartner and daughter Colbie is about to turn two years of age.  They all love hockey and any other sport for that matter!

Johnson grew up in Brainerd and played high school hockey for the Warriors.  He played collegiately at St. John’s University, winning three league titles. He competed in two national tournaments including the Frozen Four his senior year, in which the Johnnies finished third in the country.  Johnson’s twin brother, Jerr, is the STMA Boys Hockey Head Coach and played alongside his brother in high school and college.

Johnson began coaching at STMA in the boy’s program as an assistant for five years, winning one conference championship.  He then took an assistant position with his former coach and mentor, John Harrington (member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team). While at SJU for four seasons, the Johnnies won two league titles and boasted five All-Americans, two MIAC Players of the Year and one DIII National Player of the Year.

After SJU, Johnson moved to St. Cloud State University as an assistant with the women’s team for three seasons.  This was full-time position, overseeing the recruiting aspect for the Huskies.  He coached three WHCA Players of the Year and one All-American.

Johnson transitions from Assistant STMA Boys High School Coach for two seasons to Head Coach for the River Hawks for the winter sport season 2012-13.  Johnson has big expectations for the defending Mississippi 8 Conference Champs!

The Wright County Traveling Trophy that is awarded to the winner of contest between the Bison of South Wright County and the River Hawks of North Wright County came home this weekend.  The trophy is a symbol of one of the most storied rivalries in high school girls hockey, as the two teams were once one entity, known as the co-op, Wright County Blades. Last year the trophy stayed in the south after the River Hawks dropped two to the Bison, 1-3 and 1-2 respectively. The River Hawks lost a heartbreaker in OT last January, so waited the entire off-season for revenge.

The rematch couldn’t come soon enough as the River Hawks traveled to the hostile territory of Delano Ice Arena.  After a scoreless first period, the River Hawks went up 1-0 to take the lead heading into the second intermission. The Bison battled back with some hard shots on goal and a break-away, only to be denied. In a last chance effort the Bison beckoned their net minder to the bench to gain an extra attacker – but with no reward. The River Hawks scored an empty net goal to solidify the victory and hoist the coveted trophy once again!