The Kohl Center's ice sheet will be named for one of Wisconsin's legendary coaches, Bob Johnson.
Johnson led the Badgers to three NCAA championships during his career, and also coached in the Olympics, World Championships and NHL.
"It is a tremendous pleasure for our department to be able to name the Kohl Center ice for Bob Johnson," UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. "I would like to thank the former Badger hockey players, as well as several other individuals, whose generosity has made this announcement possible. It is a well-deserved recognition of a Badger legend."
During his fifteen years at the helm of the Badger program, Johnson coached Wisconsin to seven NCAA tournaments, winning three championships in 1973, 1977, and 1981. He coached numerous individual players to conference and national awards. He also led the United States at the 1976 Olympics, three Canada Cups (1981, 1984, 1987) and four IIHF Men's World Championships (1973-75, 1981). He went on to coach the NHL's Calgary Flames for five seasons (1982-87) and led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup title in 1991 before passing away from brain cancer that fall.
Johnson was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987, United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.
