Behind the Mask: Getting to know Jonas Johansson

Joining a new team in the off-season comes with its own adjustments, but for Jonas Johansson, the move to Belleville came with an added twist. After clearing waivers, the Swedish goaltender was traded just before the start of the season, bringing another change of scenery and a new opportunity to prove himself.

With each new organization comes the challenge of finding your place, both on and off the ice. For Johansson, however, staying grounded has never required much. Away from the rink, spending time outdoors with his wife and two children, exploring the woods or enjoying a cup of coffee is more than enough.

“I love having a cup of coffee in the woods on a nice day,” Johansson said. “That’s a perfect time for me.”

It’s a lifestyle that reflects Johansson’s laid-back personality, one shaped in part by his upbringing in Gävle, Sweden. Although his career has taken him across North America, home remains an important part of his life, particularly the family and friends he has left behind.

“It’s home, right, so you miss it,” Johansson said. “The people there, our family back in Gävle for sure, and I mean everyone loves their hometown.”

One tradition he continues to appreciate is fika, a Swedish custom centred on taking a break to enjoy coffee and conversation with friends or family. In a profession built around demanding schedules, travel and preparation, it’s a reminder of the value of slowing down and connecting with the people around you.

“I’d say it’s something you do a few times a day, just to talk and connect,” he said.

That appreciation for family and the simple things in life has remained with Johansson throughout his hockey journey, which began with an attraction to one of the game’s most recognizable pieces of equipment: the goaltender’s mask.

As a young player growing up in Sweden, Johansson was drawn to the pads and masks, while posters of some of the game’s biggest names helped fuel his interest in the position. Among those who left an impression was Henrik Lundqvist, the Swedish goaltender who became a star with the New York Rangers.

“I think it was the gear! As a kid I thought the pads, and the mask all looked cool,” Johansson said. “I felt that’s what got me hooked and every chance I got to play in goal when I was a kid, I took that chance.”

Lundqvist’s success in the NHL gave young Swedish goaltenders another reason to look up to him. Johansson remembers watching his highlights while growing up, even if staying up late to watch games wasn’t always an option.

“When he came over and really dominated in the NHL on the Rangers, that was great,” Johansson said. “I think all Swedish goalies look up to him in some way.”

Hockey wasn’t the only sport Johansson played as a child. Like many young athletes, he spent his summers playing soccer, something he believes helped him develop by learning different skills outside of hockey.

He may not have been destined for a career on the soccer pitch, but Johansson has another sport he’d choose if he could excel at something outside of hockey.

“I was good at running though, just not with the ball,” he said with a laugh.

Instead, tennis would be his sport of choice.

While his interest in goaltending began with the equipment, the people around him helped him continue along that path. Johansson credits both of his parents for their support growing up, remembering how his father’s old hockey gear made playing the position even more exciting.

“My dad was a big part of it when I was young, so obviously it was cool because he had his old gear to play with,” Johansson said. “Then my mom, she was great, always supportive as well!”

His coaches and other mentors also played a role as he progressed through junior hockey and began building a professional career.

That career has since brought Johansson to several different organizations, each presenting a new environment and a different opportunity. Now in Belleville, he has joined a group with plenty of younger players looking to establish themselves in professional hockey.

For Johansson, that energy has been one of the early positives of joining the Senators.

“You can really feel it, the enthusiasm of the guys who still have long careers ahead of them. I would say the good feelings in the room are just spreading to me as well, which is something I enjoy about here so far.”

He has also begun working with Belleville goaltending coach Paul Gibson, with the pair focusing on the fundamentals that Johansson believes are essential to maintaining his game.

“As a goaltender, you work on your basics all the time,” he said. “It’s what keeps your game at the level you want it to be at.”

As he settles into another new opportunity, Johansson has also brought a personal piece of home with him to the crease through his goaltending mask. While the design features the aggressive look he prefers and a dark cage, the back plate carries a more meaningful connection to his life away from the rink.

There, Johansson has included the Swedish flag alongside the names of his family, making them the last things he sees before putting his mask on for a game.

“It’s something I’ve been doing for the last few years, it’s special for me” Johansson said.

It’s a small detail that brings together two important parts of Johansson’s life: his roots in Sweden and the family that continues to support him throughout his career.

And while the circumstances of his arrival in Belleville may have been unexpected, the approach he brings to this next chapter remains consistent. Whether it’s working on the fundamentals, spending time with his family or finding a quiet moment in the woods with a cup of coffee, Johansson knows what matters to him.

And in true Jonas Johansson manner, when asked to describe himself in one word, it should be no surprise as to what he chose.

“Probably simple,” Johansson said. “I’m pretty laid back, so simple for sure.”

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