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Hall of Famer Johnson dies
Members of the NHL's greatest dynasty, the 1955 - 56 to 1959-60 Montreal Canadiens (sitting L-R) Dickie Moore, Jean Beliveau, Tom Johnson, (standing L-R) Don Marshall , Jean-Guy Talbot, and Henri Richard are reunited for a photo in Kanata, June 1, 2007. Tom Johnson has died at the age of 79.
Credit: Reuters/Mark Blinch
BOSTON (Reuters) - Former Boston Bruins player and coach Tom Johnson has died at the age of 79, the team said on Thursday.
Johnson was an outstanding defenseman with the Montreal Canadiens and the Bruins, later becoming coach and executive with Boston for more than 30 years before he retired in 1998.
A native of Balfour, Manitoba, Johnson played 15 seasons in the NHL, helping Montreal win six Stanley Cups. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 1958-59.
He coached the Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 1972, their last championship, later serving as the team's assistant general manager and vice president.
"The Bruins and all of hockey have lost a great person," said Harry Sinden, the team's former coach and general manager who is now an advisor.
Johnson was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970.
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto, Editing by Ed Osmond)
