Some of Pacioretty's fondest moments with Johannson were actually over the phone, when Johannson called to let him know that he'd be sporting the stars and strips on the international stage.
"He was always the guy that told you about the selection. Right there, it starts off with good memories telling you that you made the team. As soon as you saw his number on your phone, you got excited. I was ecstatic every time," said Pacioretty, who has represented his country on four occasions over the years - at the World Juniors in 2008, the World Championships in 2012, the Winter Olympics in 2014, and the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. "He was a huge part of the selection process and he always believed in me."
Once on-site at an event, Pacioretty recalls Johannson doing all he could to make sure that the American contingent had everything it needed to be successful.
"Everything he was doing at the event was trying to accommodate the players and make sure that we had the best circumstances and setup possible. Whether it was World Juniors, World Championships, or the Olympics, he treated everyone the same way," explained Pacioretty. "That was to get the best players and people involved in USA Hockey, and he was at the head of the ship."