Portland Winterhawks Head Coach Mike Johnston

Any time a young athlete moves, adversity tags along. Moving away from home? Check. Moving onto a new league? Yep, adversity. Moving up from junior to professional hockey? Absolutely. “Make sure everything you do today sets the table for the future.” Mike Johnston, Head Coach and General Manager of the Portland Winterhawks, has created a culture in his organization that allows people to develop naturally and prepare for the next level. And that's not just the players, but the coaches too. So when an inevitable losing streak strikes as it did to begin the season for the Winterhawks, coaches, players, and staff are empowered and trained to find a way through to the light at the end of the tunnel.