BUFFALO, N.Y.—Back in mid-June USA Hockey announced that Bethel University alum Joel Johnson was named the head coach for the 2015 U.S. Women's National U-18 Team. Just under seven months later Johnson and those competing on the squad made international headlines by defeating rival Canada in the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women's World Championship at HARBORCENTER in Buffalo, N.Y.
 
"It's just a privilege to be a part of this group. The players deserve all the credit, as does the support staff and everyone that makes this kind of moment possible," said Joel Johnson to usawomenshockey.com. "Having the opportunity to represent USA Hockey is like nothing else, and I know our coaching staff and our players can't be more excited to get a gold medal to hang around our necks. It was a great game, a great tournament, a world class display of women's hockey at the U18 level, and something all of us will take with us for the rest of our lives."
 
For Johnson this adds to his list of accomplishments in the hockey world, as he and fellow alum Brad Frost not only led the Minnesota Gophers Women's Hockey Team to 62 consecutive wins and two NCAA Championships, but he also helped the Bethel University men's hockey team win their only MIAC Championship in program history as Co-Head Coach with Pete Aus back in 2006-07.
 
Johnson, who was a three-sport athlete at Bethel, graduated in 1996. A team-captain in soccer, hockey, and baseball, he scored 40 points as a blueliner in his first two seasons with the Royals before a back injury sidelined him for the remainder of his hockey career. Following his prolific career in all three sports, Johnson went on to be a soccer, golf, and hockey coach with the Royals before his newest role with the Gophers hockey program.