Mike Johnston named U.S. Division Coach & Executive of the Year
The Portland Winterhawks are honored to recognize our very own Mike Johnston who has been named both the U.S. Division Executive of the Year and the U.S. Division WHL Coach of the Year following an impressive 48-win campaign in Portland. With this recognition, Johnston is one of four finalists for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the WHL Executive of the Year, and the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the WHL Coach of the Year.
The Winterhawks’ president, general manager and head coach recently completed a 48-15-4-1 (101 points) regular season, guiding the club to a U.S. Division Championship and the No.2 overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Led by Johnston, the Winterhawks are the only active Canadian Hockey League team that has won 40 or more games in a single season for seven consecutive years, showcasing Portland as an elite CHL franchise. No other CHL Club has more than three consecutive 40-win campaigns.
Johnston coached two players to the 100-plus point benchmark, three of his current players were recognized by Central Scouting ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, and four players were named U.S. Division All Stars. Under Johnston’s tutelage, San Jose Sharks draft pick Luca Cagnoni enjoyed a 90-point season, the most by any WHL defenseman in a single season since the 1993-94 campaign. Cagnoni went undrafted in the WHL, but was later identified and signed by Johnston and his staff, becoming a full-time member of the Winterhawks during the abbreviated 2020-21 season.
On the managerial side, Johnston made three blockbuster trades this season by acquiring NHL-drafted players Josh Davies, Tyson Jugnauth, and Nate Danielson, solidifying Portland’s championship pedigree with a deep and experienced roster. Big moves aside, the Winterhawks also boast a wealth of homegrown talent, with 18 of the 24 players on the team’s active roster having either been drafted or signed by Portland, including two-time captain and former 19th overall pick in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft Gabe Klassen.
The Winterhawks were recognized on the CHL Top Ten Rankings 23 of the 26 weeks, including preseason. Portland was even ranked the No.1 team in the CHL this year with Johnston at the helm.
Earlier this season, Johnston became the 11th head coach in Western Hockey League history to win 500 games. Johnston reached the achievement in his 794th career game – all with Portland. Former Winterhawks associate coach Don Hay is the all-time winningest coach at 752 wins, and former Portland coaches Ken Hodge (742), Mike Williamson (572), and Shaun Clouston (564) are also members of the 500 wins club.
While serving as president of the Winterhawks’ business operations, Johnston also led the front-office staff to a nomination as one of four finalists for the WHL Business of the Year award.
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Tickets for the Winterhawks’ 2024 WHL Playoffs run are on sale NOW! Click here to purchase single-game tickets (more games will be added as they are announced/needed) and be there as your hometown Hawks chase a fourth WHL Championship!
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