Ben Johnson, a disgraced former professional hockey in the Devils organization, said that he will be “going across America and preaching the gospel” at NHL arenas during the playoffs.
Johnson, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in 2016, posted a video on social media explaining his plans to visit games.
“Obviously, hockey has been a major part of my life, but in 2021 Jesus Christ gave me a brand new heart, a brand-new beginning,” Johnson said. “Since then, he has given me a brand new vision.
“So I’ll be going across America to preach the gospel at NHL arenas during the 2026 playoffs.”
In the clip, Johnson then explains why he’s going out on this mission.
“I feel a burden for people,” he said” “I feel a burden for the broken and the lost those who are looking for meaning and direction in their life.”
Johnson then shared that he believes that “God can actually revive hockey culture” and that he’s “praying for transformation in the hockey world.”
He concluded the video asking for support from his followers through “prayer, financial support or just sharing what God is doing in our lives and around hockey culture.
“I believe that we can, one person at a time, convert many to be saved and make heaven crowded.”
What happened in Johnson’s sex assault case?
In 2013, Johnson — who was a member of the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate at the time — was charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with separate incidents that took place in Windsor, when he was a member of the OHL’s Spitfires.
Johnson was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in a nightclub washroom during the team’s St. Patrick’s Day party.
Johnson was accused of forcing the girl to perform oral sex in a bathroom stall while she was intoxicated before he raped her, causing vaginal bleeding.
Johnson was later accused of sexual assault by a second woman in an incident which allegedly occurred two weeks prior, but he was acquitted by a judge.
In September 2016, Johnson was convicted of the charge related to the first accusation and was sentenced a month later to a three-year prison term for sexual assault and the Devils terminated his contract.
Did Johnson return to pro hockey after prison?
After reportedly serving approximately 13 months in prison, Johnson signed with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones in December 2018.
He played two seasons for the club and later joined the Kansas City Mavericks in 2021, after sitting out a season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson would later play three seasons in the Slovak Extraliga before attempting to return to pro hockey in North America. However, after agreeing to sign with ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder, the team reversed its decision after receiving backlash on social media over Johnson’s past.
Johnson then posted on Instagram that he went to prison for “things that were alleged to have happened” and “damaging accusations” while criticizing the NHL for being “pro cancel and pro silencing.”
Two weeks after the post, Johnson signed an amateur tryout contract with the ECHL’s Allen Americans, which was rescinded the following day again due to backlash from fans.