Tyler Johnson Signs with London Knights Following NCAA Ruling

After the NCAA upheld its one-year ban on Tyler Johnson, the goaltender from Amherst, NY is expected to sign on with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, according to multiple sources.

Johnson and the University of Maine appealed his one year suspension, but the NCAA wouldn't budge on its year-long ban for playing 11 minutes of an OHL exhibition game. Johnson would have been a big boost to Maine's chances of rebuilding as he'd have brought stability to the goaltending position in Orono.

At 6-foot-3, Johnson has pro size and athleticism in the crease. He played the 2015-16 season with the Topeka RoadRunners in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He had a 2.56 goals against average and .906 save percentage in 33 regular season games. He committed to the Black Bears at the end of December.

Johnson will serve as a back-up to Tyler Parsons, who is expected to be the starting goaltender for the U.S. at the 2017 World Junior Championships. Parsons was the goaltender for the Knights this past season as the organization captured the Memorial Cup.