Title

Johnstone, Chris

Type

Builder

Sport

English Hockey

Inducted

2023

Era

1971 - 1991

Description

Chris “Scooter” Johnstone made his junior hockey debut in the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League in 1979, playing center for the Niagara Falls Canucks. From 1981-1985, he advanced to play at the college level for the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers in New York, and there he achieved incredible records that will likely never be broken. During his time at RIT he was named 2 time all-American and won 2 NCAA championships.

While Chris loved playing hockey, he found that he loved coaching hockey even more. Chris has been coaching for over 35 years, touching the lives of countless individuals at an amateur and professional level. Chris’ first notable coaching position was as Assistant Coach with the Ontario Hockey League, Niagara Falls Thunder, in 1990 and went on to become Head Coach in 1993. He continued as Head Coach until 1996, which included the teams move to Erie PA and it's being renamed the Erie Otters. In 2001 Chris coached the Chippawa RiverHawks to an All-Ontario Jr. C Championship.

Over 100 NHL players have learned under Chris, and many of them remember him fondly, keep in touch, and/or cite their time with him as an influential and important part of their growth as a player. He went on to coach numerous teams across the GOJHL.

Some of Chris' fondest memories of coaching are when he had his son Carson at his side as his assistant coach and especially when his son took on the mantle of Head Coach in a switch of roles with the Fort Erie International Academy Falcons U18 Team of the Canadian High School Hockey (CAHS) in 2020.

Subject

Awards

Portraits - Biographical

Niagara Falls Virtual Sports Wall of Fame

Sports - Recreation - Leisure