Ross Johnston Bio
Ross Johnston (born February 18, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously spent several seasons with the New York Islanders organization after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and playing at about 231 pounds, Johnston is recognized around the league for his physical presence and willingness to drop the gloves.
Over the course of his NHL career, Johnston has built a reputation as an energy forward who can play a checking-line role while also contributing offensively in bursts. After working his way up through junior and minor-league rosters, he earned a full-time spot in the NHL and has remained a serviceable bottom-six player at the highest level of professional hockey.
Early Life and Background
Ross Johnston was born on February 18, 1994, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He grew up in Suffolk, a small rural community on the island, where he was raised on his family’s beef farm. His upbringing in a tight-knit Maritime household helped shape the hard-working, blue-collar approach he would later bring to the ice.
Johnston grew up alongside an older brother named Will and a sister named Katherine. The responsibilities and physical demands of life on the farm contributed to his imposing frame and toughness, traits that became hallmarks of his hockey career. From a young age, he was drawn to the sport, eventually channeling his size and work ethic into organized competition in his home province.
Path to Hockey
Johnston began his competitive hockey journey in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) with the Summerside Western Capitals. His performance at that level was strong enough to earn him a promotion to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), one of the major junior circuits that feed into professional hockey in North America.
In the QMJHL, Johnston played three seasons split between the Moncton Wildcats, the Victoriaville Tigres, and the Charlottetown Islanders. He developed his physical, heavy-game style during those years, but he went undrafted by NHL teams. As a free agent, he accepted an invitation to the New York Islanders’ training camp in 2014, where a preseason fight resulted in a broken jaw, costing him two months of his final junior season with Charlottetown. Despite the setback, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on March 31, 2015, officially beginning his professional career.
Ross Johnston Career
Early Career (2015-2018)
After signing with the Islanders, Johnston began his first professional year in 2015-16 by splitting time between the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and the ECHL’s Missouri Mavericks. He was recalled late in the season and made his NHL debut on April 10, 2016, getting his first taste of top-level competition. He then returned to the AHL for the 2016-17 campaign and started 2017-18 with Bridgeport as well.
On January 19, 2018, Johnston was called up to the Islanders to replace the injured Casey Cizikas. He quickly made an impact, recording his first NHL point on January 21 with an assist on a Brock Nelson goal during a 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Four days later, on January 25, he notched his first NHL goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in a 2-1 Islanders victory. He finished that season with three goals and six points across 24 NHL games, establishing himself as a depth forward with offensive upside.
New York Islanders Tenure (2018-2023)
As a restricted free agent following his rookie NHL season, Johnston agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Islanders on July 9, 2018. The deal signaled the organization’s belief in his two-way game and physicality, and he became a regular presence on the team’s checking lines over the next several seasons. He was a popular teammate in the dressing room and a fixture on the penalty kill.
On October 26, 2021, Johnston signed another four-year contract extension with the Islanders, cementing his long-term role with the club. Throughout his tenure, he was valued for his size, fighting ability, and willingness to protect his skilled linemates, contributing to a hard-to-play-against team identity that defined the Islanders during that era.
Anaheim Ducks Era (2023-Present)
Johnston made the Islanders’ 2023-24 season-opening roster on October 9, 2023, but was waived the very next day, October 10, and was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks. The transaction marked a fresh start for the veteran forward on the West Coast. He made his Ducks debut on opening night, October 14, 2023, against the Vegas Golden Knights, immediately slotting into a bottom-six checking role.
Since joining Anaheim, Johnston has continued to bring his trademark physicality and energy to the Ducks’ lineup. He has provided veteran leadership to a young Anaheim roster and remains a consistent presence on the team’s fourth line and penalty kill.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnston’s game is built on his size, physicality, and willingness to engage in the rough areas of the ice. He is particularly effective as a penalty killer and a defensive-zone forward, using his reach and strength to win board battles and clear the front of the net. While not a high-end scorer, he has shown he can chip in offensively when given the opportunity, as evidenced by his early NHL production with the Islanders.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Johnston’s career are his NHL debut in 2016, his first NHL point against the Chicago Blackhawks in January 2018, and his first NHL goal against the Vegas Golden Knights later that same month. He was also part of Islanders rosters that reached the NHL semifinals in 2019-20 and 2020-21, contributing in a depth capacity during those deep playoff runs.
Ross Johnston Career Wins
Across his professional career, Ross Johnston has been recognized primarily for his role-player contributions rather than for accumulating major individual awards. His wins and successes are best measured in team achievements and personal milestones, including reaching the NHL as an undrafted free agent, contributing to playoff-caliber Islanders teams, and continuing his career with the Anaheim Ducks.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL, Johnston’s milestone wins include his first NHL game in 2016, his first point and goal in January 2018, and his continued role as a reliable bottom-six forward. While he is not a prolific point producer, his games played and physical contributions have helped his teams compete in tight, defensive matchups throughout multiple seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Johnston was a steady contributor in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, Victoriaville Tigres, and Charlottetown Islanders, helping those teams compete in one of Canada’s toughest major junior leagues. In the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he was also a physical presence who helped the club push for Calder Cup contention during his developmental years.
Ross Johnston Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ross Johnston was raised on his family’s beef farm in Suffolk, Prince Edward Island, a rural upbringing that helped develop his famously physical style of play. He has one older brother, Will, and a sister, Katherine. The Johnston family remains connected to Prince Edward Island, where Ross spent his earliest years before pursuing hockey at higher levels.
Personal Life
Johnston has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye, focusing his public profile on his career as a professional hockey player. He continues to be active on social media, where he occasionally shares updates related to his on-ice work and life as a member of the Anaheim Ducks organization.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Ross Johnston remains a member of the Anaheim Ducks, providing veteran leadership and a physical element to a young, developing roster. The Ducks are in the midst of a rebuild, and Johnston’s role continues to center around energy shifts, penalty killing, and protecting more skilled teammates along the boards and in front of the net.
Throughout the early portion of the 2025 campaign, Johnston has been deployed primarily in a fourth-line capacity, with occasional spot duty on the third line when matchups warrant his physical presence. His minutes have been managed carefully by the coaching staff, reflecting his value in specialized situations rather than as a top-six scorer.
Looking ahead, Johnston is expected to remain a steady veteran presence for Anaheim through the remainder of the 2025 season. His experience from deep playoff runs with the Islanders should benefit the Ducks’ young core, and his physicality will continue to be a useful asset as Anaheim pushes to take the next step in its competitive rebuild.