Defenseman Brent Johnson made his pro debut on Friday after signing an ECHL contract with the Nailers this week, and he recorded a goal, an assist, three shots and a plus-1 rating in the Nailers' 6-3 win over the Reading Royals.
Johnson, 23, was a 2021 third-round pick of the Capitals. The Capitals hold his NHL rights until Aug. 15, but that doesn't prevent him from signing his ECHL deal. He played two years at the University of North Dakota and then the last two seasons at Ohio State, where he posted identical stat lines in his junior and senior seasons with five goals and eight assists.
Gabe Klassen scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season, the latter into an empty net. Phip Waugh scored his third, David Jankowski his 10th, and Logan Pietila his eighth. Chase Pietila (the Penguins' NHL-contracted defenseman) had a pair of assists and now has three assists in four games. Taylor Gauthier stopped 25 of 28 shots.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
2:05 am - 04.05.2025DallasECHL: Johnson scores in debut
Defenseman Brent Johnson made his pro debut on Friday after signing an ECHL contract with the Nailers this week, and he recorded a goal, an assist, three shots and a plus-1 rating in the Nailers' 6-3 win over the Reading Royals.
Johnson, 23, was a 2021 third-round pick of the Capitals. The Capitals hold his NHL rights until Aug. 15, but that doesn't prevent him from signing his ECHL deal. He played two years at the University of North Dakota and then the last two seasons at Ohio State, where he posted identical stat lines in his junior and senior seasons with five goals and eight assists.
Gabe Klassen scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season, the latter into an empty net. Phip Waugh scored his third, David Jankowski his 10th, and Logan Pietila his eighth. Chase Pietila (the Penguins' NHL-contracted defenseman) had a pair of assists and now has three assists in four games. Taylor Gauthier stopped 25 of 28 shots.
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