Johnston hit Express forward Cody Michelle breaking his jaw during the exhibition game between the Express and Vees Saturday in Penticton. Johnston was assessed a match penalty on the play.
Last season Johnston received a 4 game suspension for a cross check to Alex Grieve of the Westside Warriors.
Michelle has had surgery to repair the injury and is expected to be out of the Express lineup for a lengthy period of time.
The 20 game suspension for Johnston equates to one third of the Vees 60 game schedule.
Express President and GM Darcy Rota wasn't at all surprised by the league's decision when I caught up with him.
http://www.mediafire.com/?x1obf69225p2bjl
Cody Michelle was acquired from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks as part of the future considerations in a trade back in December 2010 that also saw the Express picking Clinton Atkinson. Brad Reid went the other way in the deal.
The Express and Vees will meet for the third and final time this season (2 exhibition, 1 regular season) in Coquitlam when the BCHL season opens up Friday night.
For a little more on this story and Alex Petan handed the captaincy, check out Assistant Coach Grant Kerr's Behind the Bench feature on the Express website here.
http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575&page=55275
In other Express injury news, 2nd year forward Mitchell Deacon will also be out for a lengthy period of time to start the season as he will have shoulder surgery in the next few days.
In other Express injury news, 2nd year forward Mitchell Deacon will also be out for a lengthy period of time to start the season as he will have shoulder surgery in the next few days.
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