SCSU’s Brett Larson Reflects on Recruiting, Coaching Adam Johnson

(KNSI) – Before Adam Johnson became an NHL player with the Pittsburgh Penguins or traveled to Europe to continue his professional career, he was recruited by St. Cloud State Head Coach Brett Larson.

The leader of the Huskies program played at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and later was on the staff when Johnson committed there. Larson says Johnson was an energetic player who hid behind a bit of grumpiness, and he was in charge of getting him to loosen up.

“The kid had a great smile; that’s one thing I really loved about him at the rink. And when you can needle him a little bit and give him a joke here and there, and he’d laugh. He was quick-witted, he’d give you right back.”

He says Johnson was a huge part of the Bulldog locker room and helped them reach the Frozen Four in 2017 in the NCAA Tournament with an overtime winner against Boston University.

Larson first found out about Johnson’s death late Saturday night. Johnson was playing in a game in England when the skateblade of an opponent slashed his neck. Larson says the Hibbing kid came from an athletic family, but his success was never guaranteed.

“He wasn’t overly gifted with his size, he was built more like a marathon runner. He didn’t have a lot of bulk to him, and he had to work really hard on his strength, and he put in a lot of work to do that and to realize his dream of making it in the NHL.”

Johnson skated in 12 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins before heading overseas. Larson also played in Europe professionally. He said when everything else is unfamiliar, the rink feels like home.

That’s what makes Johnson’s death on the ice so shocking. Larson says the weight of the tragedy has yet to sink in.

Johnson was just 29.

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