Convicted Felon Former NHLer Signs a Pro Contract

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Wade Messier
June 9, 2023 (6:36 PM)

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Former NHL draft pick and convicted felon Ben Johnson has signed a one-year contract with the Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL2. The news comes as quite a shock to many, especially considering Johnson's past crimes, which are incredibly serious.

Johnson Gets Yet Another Chance

The Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL2 have signed disgraced former NHLer Ben Johnson to a one-year deal.

While Johnson was drafted by the New Jersey Devils back in 2012, he never managed to play a single game with the club, although he did play parts of three different seasons with their AHL affiliate.

The move has been confirmed by Elite Prospects, one of the largest hockey databases in the world.

Johnson's Conviction

WARNING: Please be warned that the following segment of this story contains sensitive subjects pertaining to sexual assault and rape. If you have previously dealt with traumatic experiences stemming from either of those topics, it may not be a great idea to continue reading.

Johnson was convicted on two counts of sexual assault back in 2016, which stemmed from incidents that took place during Johnson's time as a member of the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL.

The first incident occurred at a bar restroom, where Johnson sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman. The second incident took place a few weeks later at a separate bar, where Johnson once again assaulted and raped a girl in the restroom. This time, the girl in question was just 16 years old and intoxicated.

The New Jersey Devils, who had signed Johnson to an entry-level deal at this point, terminated his contract once the news about his conviction was made public. Johnson spent three years in prison following his conviction but has since returned to playing professional hockey.

While Krefeld's decision to sign Johnson is incredibly disappointing, they can still make right by terminating his contract. Johnson has shown no indication that he's learned from his actions, and never had to jump through any hoops in order to return to playing professional hockey.

We hope that Johnson's victims have found peace and that the news of his new signing doesn't harm them.

As Seen on Markerzone - Former NHLer and Convicted Criminal Signs a Contract in Germany