During a stellar collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, forward Steve Johnson was named a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 1988. In his senior season, he was a driving force for the team, leading the nation in scoring with 85 points (34 goals, 51 assists) in 42 games. His exceptional performance earned him a spot as a First-Team All-American, a First-Team All-WCHA selection, and the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year award. Johnson’s impressive offensive output solidified his place as one of the program’s most decorated players, graduating as the third all-time leading scorer for the university with 191 points.

After his standout college years, Johnson moved on to professional hockey. Although he was selected in the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, he spent his professional playing career primarily in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Milwaukee Admirals and the Phoenix Roadrunners. Over two seasons, he was a productive player in the IHL, totaling 124 points in 134 games before his playing career concluded. He would later transition into a successful coaching career, including a long tenure in the USHL.