Convicted Criminal and Former NHL Prospect Inks a New Deal
Former NHL draft pick Ben Johnson has found himself with a contract for the 2023-24 season in Germany. Johnson is a highly controversial player due to his criminal past, which caused him to have his NHL contract terminated and saw him spend three years in prison.
Johnson Gets a Shot in Germany
The Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL2 have decided to give Johnson a one-year contract, despite his highly controversial and troubling record.
Johnson was a 2012 third-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils, and even signed an entry-level contract with the club, but had it terminated once the news of his crimes was made public.
He spent last season in the top Slovak league, and will now make the move to Germany for the upcoming season.
Details of Johnson's Crimes
WARNING: The following segment of this story contains incredibly sensitive subjects, including topics such as rape and sexual assault. If these are subjects that make you uncomfortable, please stop reading now.
Ben Johnson was convicted on two separate counts of sexual assault and rape, which occurred when Johnson was a member of the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. The two incidents occurred within a few weeks of each other, each happening in the restrooms of two different bars.
The first incident involved a 20-year-old woman who Johnson forced to perform sexual acts on him. The second incident involved a 16-year-old girl, who Johnson also forced to perform sex acts on him before raping her. The second girl was intoxicated at the time of the crime.
Johnson spent three years in prison as a result of his conviction back in 2016, and while some will say that he has paid for his crimes, and should be allowed to continue playing professional hockey, we disagree. Johnson's crimes are heinous, and his punishment was far too little.
Our thoughts are with the victims of Johnson, and we sincerely hope that they've moved on and found peace.
As Seen on Markerzone - Former NHLer and Convicted Criminal Signs a Contract in Germany
| POLL | ||
Should Johnson be allowed to play professional hockey? | ||
| Yes | 15 | 37.5 % |
| No | 25 | 62.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
