Born in Winnipegosis, Manitoba, Johnson played junior with the Flin Flon Bombers, Fort Frances Royals and Brandon Wheat Kings before turning pro with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League in 1965-66. He excelled in the CHL, winning the Tommy Ivan trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1970 and earning selection to the league's second all-star team in 1969 and 1970.

Johnson was called up for one game by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1969-70 and was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the expansion draft. He registered a career-best 15 goals in 1970-71 but was placed on waivers the next season and claimed by the Detroit Red Wings. He played the last 43 games of the 1971-72 season with the Wings before joining the WHA's Winnipeg Jets. Johnson scored 53 goals in three seasons and helped the Jets win the inaugural WHA championship in 1973. He also served as the team's captain and retired following the 1974-75 season.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame