Jack Johnson #3 | Los Angeles Kings

Here I'll try to keep you updated on what is going on in my life.

May 31st, 2010... On this Memorial Day I want to salute all those who have served and are now serving in our military to make this great country free. May God Bless America!

Thanks again to everyone for all the support throughout the season and I'm proud to represent the United States whenever I can.

May 5th-18th, 2010... I was lucky enough to represent the United States again this year, this time at the 2010 World Championships in Germany. Although things didn't turn out how'd we like, I captained the team and we were able to be a part of a world record crowd when we played Germany. Read all about the highs and lows in my blog.

May 1st, 2010... It has been a few months now since the Olympics, and I can't help but think how close we were and I'm still mad we didn't win. We know we were the best team there, and I wish we could have played a third game against the team up North to settle it once and for all. I am proud of what we did accomplish and to have had the incredible experience of representing the USA. I feel that we brought honor and respect to USA Hockey, players, coaches, administrators, and parents throughout our country.

Thank you to all of those who took the time to write, blog, email, text, call and just say "good job". Your support really meant a lot! The fun didn't all end with the Closing Ceremonies - I was invited (along with my silver medal) to the Oscars and the E! After Party which was an awesome time!

The Kings season ended a couple weeks ago with a bitter disappointment in losing to Vancouver. They are a really great team led by Ryan Kesler. Throughout the series I felt we could have and should have won. I'll leave it at that.

February 12th-28th, 2010... Check out my blog from the Olympics, where we captured the silver medal for USA.

UNBELIEVABLE

Vancouver 2010 Olympics

February 12th, 2010... I don't really have much to say about the Opening Ceremony because I'm still in awe. It was unbelievable and more than anything I could have imagined. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to be there.

Watch more videos and read more about my Opening Ceremonies adventure on ESPN.com

February 12th, 2010... It's finally here! I left LA this morning and have arrived in Vancouver. I have a press conference in a few minutes, but then tonight I'll be the only member of USA Hockey marching in the Opening Ceremonies. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can't believe it's finally time!

I never expected the attention I'd get for going to the opening ceremonies, but we've had TV crews and media following me and my family around. Check out some of the articles in the Latest News section including an article from NHL.com.

Also, NHL.com wrote about my international experience.

January 22nd, 2010...

It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!

This road trips brings me home!

We're on the road again, but I can't complain since we're playing in Detroit on January 23rd. I love playing the Wings because that means I get to see a lot of my family and friends.

Being home, I was busy with radio interviews and a Q and A Feature I did with the Detroit Free Press.

While in Michigan, I also had a chance to catch a Michigan hockey game vs. Ferris State. The photo to the left is of me getting interviewed during the first intermission up in the press box and then below is me shooting during Score-O in the second intermission. I love being in Yost and wouldn't trade that experience for anything. It's always nice to be back where it all started.

January 6th, 2010...

The Olympics are right around the corner and I can't wait for it to begin.

I will even be marching in the Opening Ceremonies on February 12.

Not many hockey players will be able to participate in it because of their schedules. I'm just in awe that I will get to experience everything first hand. I'm thrilled to be an Olympian and honored to represent the United States. The Games can't get here soon enough!

Go Red, White, and BLUE!

TEAM USA - WORLD CHAMPIONS

USA is golden twice! Congratulations to both the U20 and U17 Teams for winning gold medals at the World Junior Championship and

World Under-17 Challenge. Way to go boys! Great to be an American!

January 1st, 2010...

There are no words to describe how I feel. It has been such an honor to represent my country a number of times, but nothing compares with representing the USA at the Olympics. I'm so blessed and can't wait until February 16th when we start our quest for a gold in Vancouver.

USA Hockey Article | MGoBlue.com Article

November 8th, 2009...We're out on the road again, starting Monday in Chicago then on to Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa and finally Florida. Except for Chicago, I will be playing in buildings I've never played in. That will be exciting! I'm curious as to how I might be received or what potential questions I might get asked in Carolina. I was originally drafted by Carolina and they traded me to L.A. when I wouldn't leave Michigan after both my freshman and sophomore years. Many people think I didn't want to sign with Carolina, but that's not true. I simply wanted more time at Michigan, both to develop as a person and player. They weren't willing to wait another season, so they traded me. That's the business side of hockey.

On the fun side, we just finished up with the Dad's Trip. The Kings brought all the dads to our games in Phoenix and then against Pittsburgh. It was really cool to have Dad along. He and the other dads really had fun meeting each other, sharing stories and seeing our routines. We started by flying out together, then had a group dinner in Phoenix - lots of laughs and an incredible meal. Then we bused to the hotel and Dad was my roommate! We really had a blast reminiscing about all the youth tournaments, different towns, games and players through the years. The only thing missing were the mini sticks. It was really special for me. I know I wouldn't be where I am without my dad. Through thick and thin, he's always been there to teach, encourage, motivate, support and mostly love me. Between my mother and father, I definitely feel I won life's lottery.

We beat Phoenix, jumped on the plane and back to L.A. Couple days of practice and Pittsburgh and my friend Sid came to town. Everyone makes such a big deal out of our friendship, but they really have no idea that when the puck drops nobody wants to win more than Sid and I do. Especially against each other. Bragging rights are HUGE! It was a big win for us, just knowing they were the defending Cup champs.

Father's Trip behind us, of course we all had to listen to the dads brag about being 2-0 and that maybe the Kings should keep them around for good luck. They were good luck and I hope the Kings do it again.

Well, big road trip, we expect nothing less than points in every game!

Hope you enjoy my site. I'm still tweaking things and I think you'll like the changes.

October 26th, 2009...

Happy Halloween!

I wanted to wish everyone a "Happy Halloween" and show off a real Jack-o-Lantern! Hope everyone has a great time trick-or-treating!

Plus, make sure to check out the photos from when we played in Detroit. It's great to have all the support from my family and friends when I go home. I got to see my buddies from elementary and middle school and even my old teachers were there. It means a lot that they are still supporting me over all these years.

October 19th, 2009... Wow, what a treat, I was Pete Carroll's guest at the USC football practice on October 7th. I have always loved college football, and I must admit, after my beloved Wolverines, I am a big USC fan. I had a chance to go to couple of games last year, and got to know some of the guys, Mark Sanchez, Brian Cushing and Ray Maualuga. One thing led to another and I found myself being invited to practice by Pete. I was surprised how many guys were hockey fans, it was cool. Due to NCAA rules I better not mention any names. Lets put it this way, they were all great and one of them even wears his number after a Heisman trophy winner from Michigan! Watch our game this Sunday, October 25th against Columbus because they will be showing more of my visit on FSN West or on KingsVision during the game (or just watch the video below).

A photo with Pete Carroll after practice.

October 2nd, 2009... Bring it on!!! The season is upon us and I am so fired up to open it up against the Phoenix Coyotes. It has been a long time since the end of last season. Missing the playoffs means we missed one of our goals and makes for a long summer, which stinks. We all play to win and losing is not acceptable. I believe our team is poised to not only make the playoffs but surprise a few teams along the way to the Stanley Cup finals. I aim high and I know everyone in the locker room is thinking the same way. You may ask why I think the way I do and there are many reasons...but the biggest in my mind is the addition of Ryan Smyth and Rob Scuderi, who are proven winners in all aspects. Rob has been my defense partner throughout the pre-season and I absolutely love playing with and learning from him. We are clicking and I feel we can really complement each other well. Also, our management has done the right things to make this team more competitive and I am so pumped up.

Now, we know we are not the popular choice to make the playoffs but I have not seen a writer score a goal yet. People say we are young and have to learn to win but I don’t believe that being young is an excuse not to win. Yes we are young, but this game is about playing hard and showing character. I have always believed you don’t develop character...you reveal it!

The schedule has been condensed due to the Olympic break which means more games in a shorter period of time so it is vital we get off to a good start and I am positive we will. All the teams in this league are very talented and there are no easy games. We have to be ready to play every night and we will ensure that happens.

I was happy with camp and know I am ready to go. My own expectations are much higher than anyone else’s and I like it that way. My goal is simple...do everything possible to help the Kings win and compete for the Stanley Cup. Making the playoffs is expected and I know we will show up every night and perform to the best of our ability.

One other thing, I have been working on my site over the summer and we will be adding many new features. One is that fans will be able to post any questions and I will answer them all within 48 hours. Also we will be having giveaways and more information about me and my family. My brother Kenny is a Jr. King, but the way he plays, it won’t be long until he is a KING! I am proud of you Kenny keep it up. So please come back often and let me know what you think.

LA KINGS FANS...Get ready to go on a ride. A ride that will take us into the playoffs and beyond! Thanks in advance for your support and I look forward to seeing you all out at the arena.

September 18th, 2009...

It may just be the preseason, but we're ready, hungry, and gaining confidence every game. I just can't wait to get started for real and I know the rest of the guys feel the same way. Saturday, October 3 we open the regular season against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Jack Johnson's Short-handed Game Winning Goal

Terry Murray Post-Game Interview

Jack Johnson Post-Game Interview

September 1st, 2009... It's that time of year again - time to get back to playing hockey! I've been busy this summer preparing for the season and attended USA Hockey's Olympic Orientation Camp. I recently sat down with MGoBlue.com to talk about the experience:

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson (2006-07) attended last week's USA Hockey Olympic Orientation Camp in suburban Chicago. While the team won't be officially chosen until the winter, Johnson felt that he had a productive camp and fit in well with America's best. Also taking part in the camp was fellow U-M alumnus and current Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman Mike Komisarek. In fact, the pair of former Wolverines sat next to each other in the locker room throughout the three-day camp. The real competition for roster spots on Team USA begins with the opening of the NHL season on Oct. 1, something Johnson is eagerly awaiting after an injury-shortened campaign in 2008-09. Originally a member of U-M's class of 2009, Johnson returned to Ann Arbor this summer to continue his pursuit of a degree from the University of Michigan.

MGoBlue.com: What did you think of the Olympic Orientation Camp?

Jack Johnson: "I felt great during the camp. I felt like I had a good camp. It was a good chance to get to know all the guys better. There were only a few guys that I didn't know -- some of the older guys. It was a comfortable situation to walk into just because I've played with a majority of the guys there on other U.S. teams at some point, whether it was from the U.S. National Team Development Program or World Juniors or World Championships. It was fun. The on-ice was a pretty good pace, but I felt like I fit in fine. Now I'm just looking forward to getting the [NHL] season started."

MGoBlue.com: You've played for a variety of U.S. national teams at the Under-18, Under-20 and senior levels, what would becoming an Olympian mean to you?

JJ: "To me, that would be the biggest honor in sports. It's bigger than any NHL team or amateur tournament. It's the pinnacle of sport. It's the Olympics -- every country is battling to be the best and it just doesn't get any bigger than that."

MGoBlue.com: What are your earliest Olympic memories?

JJ: "The first Olympics I really started to follow were the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. I remember when Michael Johnson wore the gold shoes and broke a couple world records there. That's when I really started to follow the Olympics -- I was about nine-years old then. I realized they were a big deal and I started watching Olympic hockey after that."

MGoBlue.com: Should USA be considered one of the top teams heading into the 2010 Olympic ice hockey tournament?

JJ: "Absolutely. We're definitely one of the competitive countries in hockey. Going into the Olympics it's anyone's tournament -- the Swedes are obviously defending champions, but anyone could win it. Just from being at the camp, all 34 or 35 guys who were there expect to win. Everyone is excited."

MGoBlue.com: What do you think of the various reports stating that a number of roster spots are locked up already?

JJ: "I know [Team USA general manager] Brian Burke said that there were some guys in mind, but he hasn't mentioned anyone that I know of. It's just the writers speculating as to who's a lock. Brian Burke made it pretty clear that October 1 is when the real tryouts start. It's pretty wide-open. Not only are the guys at the camp hopefully on the team, but also there are 20 or 40 other guys on the list to be watched. It could be anyone."

MGoBlue.com: What kinds of things did the team do during the three days of camp?

JJ: "We skated in the morning each day for about an hour. We went over how the coaches wanted us to play and the mentality that they want going into the tournament. Afterwards, we had media time. Obviously, there were a lot of people that wanted to talk to the players. We had drug-testing meetings, fittings for equipment, we went over setup for the opening and closing ceremonies and we were asked how many tickets we'd like if we were chosen for the team. Tons of meetings that you wouldn't think of that have to get done. We also had a lot of cool team functions. We went to a White Sox game. We had the privilege of listening to some military guys -- two Army Rangers and a Navy S.E.A.L. We got to hang out with them for a few days in the locker room. That was a pretty big honor for us to get to know them. It was pretty quick -- we were only there for three days."

MGoBlue.com: Brian Burke has told the media that he'd like a team that isn't afraid to be physical. Is that exciting for someone like you who enjoys that part of the game?

JJ: "Definitely. I think you have to build a team that can play any style in a tournament like this because every country is going to throw something different at you. The team that's best able to adapt I think is going to win this. You have to be able to play up and down with Russia or go into a war with Canada. There are definitely enough Americans out there who can play both styles. That's something I do like to hear. I think I can play [a physical style] or up and down hockey."

MGoBlue.com: Will it be fun to have three other U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls with you on the L.A. Kings roster this season in Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick and Rob Scuderi?

JJ: "It will be exciting and that will be in the back of our minds, but our first job is to win hockey games for the Kings. Our focus will be playing for them right now. Obviously, in an ideal situation we'd all like to play for the U.S. team together. Hopefully that will happen. That does add some excitement, but you have to be able to refocus on playing your game for the Kings and hope everything else takes care of itself."

MGoBlue.com: One of your goals away from hockey has been to earn your degree from the University of Michigan. How is that endeavor coming along?

JJ: "My plan is ultimately to get a degree from the University of Michigan. I don't have a timeline for myself. I'm not in any race. I was able to take a class this summer, but I had to drop a couple others just because the finals were right during the Olympic Camp and that was kind of a big deal for me. I didn't want to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I didn't get as many classes done this summer as I would have liked to, but again I'm not in any race. I just want to get it done at some point, so when I finish my career I can say I have a degree from the University of Michigan. I'm trying to get some classes done at [the University Southern California] while I'm there and maybe catch a couple football games as well. I just want to keep working on school so I don't end up being the old guy sitting in the classes with all the kids."

MGoBlue.com: Having such a hectic pro schedule, do you still keep tabs on the Michigan hockey team?

JJ: "I follow the Michigan hockey team all year. Every Sunday I check the internet to see how the boys did. I talk to pretty much all the guys who were in my class still. I see the coaches all summer long. I'm at the rink quite a bit during the summer. I try to talk to them all the time."

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