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Coach Craig Johnson:
The Anaheim Ducks and Santa Margarita Catholic High School today named Craig Johnson Head Coach of the Santa Margarita Hockey Team, a member of the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League. “Craig Johnson brings a wealth of hockey knowledge and experience to Santa Margarita,” said Art Trottier, General Manager of Anaheim ICE and Director of the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League. “Along with the addition of Santa Margarita to the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League in 2009-10, we look forward to expanding the program in the near future.” Johnson, 36 (3/18/72), will begin his coaching career with Santa Margarita, which will begin play in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League for the 2009-10 season. Johnson played 10 seasons in the NHL with St. Louis, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Toronto and Washington from 1994-2004, collecting 75-98=178 points with 260 penalty minutes in 557 career games. He began his NHL career with the Blues in 1994-95 before being acquired by the Kings as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade on Feb. 27, 1996. Johnson appeared in 39 games with the Ducks during the 2003-04 campaign, scoring 1-2=3 points with 14 PIM. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Johnson was a member of Team USA at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway and represented the United States in four World Championships from 1993-2001 and the World Junior Championship in 1990. Johnson also played professionally in Europe for four years before retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season. Assistant Coach Mitch O’Brien:
Mitch brings over 25 years of ice hockey playing experience to the team. He also has 7 years experience coaching youth hockey with the Jr. Ducks. He spent the last 3 years coaching at the tier level. Mitch has coached his teams to 2 Southern California Championships and 1 State Title. In 2007 Mitch coached the Jr. Ducks to a championship at the prestigious Quebec Pee Wee World Championships. He holds a level III coaching certificate through USA Hockey. Mitch is a police lieutenant with the City of Huntington Beach where he has worked for the last 25 years. Mitch is currently assigned as the commander of the Special Enforcement Bureau. He also served on the department’s SWAT team for 12 years and in 1993 was awarded the department’s Medal of Valor. Mitch holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Mitch is married with 3 children, 2 of which attend Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Goalie Coach David Freeze: David has 26 years of goaltending experience and he has played at all levels of hockey. He is also the club goalie coach for The Anaheim Jr. Ducks. David has coached all levels of hockey including Jr. A, Jr. B and Midget AAA. One of his students, Chanda Gunn, won the 2006 Winter Olympics Bronze Medal for The US Women's Olympic Hockey Team. Many of David's other students have also received high accolades because of his style of coaching. David has received his Emergency Medical Technician certification and he also has an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. David is married, and has a daughter with more to come. |
Ice Hockey
