This month in history (4 years ago)
USA Hockey officials said former Wolverine Jack Johnson was the first-ever American National Hockey League player to participate in the opening ceremonies for an Olympics, when he received permission from the Los Angeles Kings to attend those ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. “I had a feeling it wasn’t very common, but I had no idea I would be the first,” Johnson told ESPN.com. Johnson said he got the idea after he was named to the U.S. team on Jan. 1, 2010. He looked at the Kings’ schedule and Olympic schedule, then looked at a map and decided to go for it. Today, Johnson plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
— ESPN and NHL.com
