Kaliya wore this Green Set jersey throughout the 2016-2017 season for the Connecticut Whale. She played in 14 games and tallied 3 assists as the Whale lost in the Isobel Cup semifinals to the Boston Pride.
Johnson was born in Chandler, Arizona and was the first Arizona native to play professionally in the NWHL. She preceded fellow Arizonans Katie McGovern and Carlee Turner by a couple of seasons. The state is now steadily producing pros in both the women’s and men’s top leagues in a sport that many Canadians and Original Six steadfasts believe has no business in the desert.
Kaliya split her time in minor hockey between the Anaheim Lady Ducks in California and DYHA/Jr. Sun Devils here in Arizona. She worked her way into a four year stay with Boston College at the D1 level. While at BC, an injury that was originally diagnosed as a concussion nearly ended Johnson’s career due to an issue with how her brain was sitting in her skull. She had brain surgery and was back on the ice within two months!
After college, she was picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Whale. Upon signing, she told Arizona Rubber Hockey, “Being the first person to sign from Arizona, I am put in a unique situation where I can show younger girls that you achieve your goals with hard work and dedication.”
You can see her impact and the impact of McGovern and Turner in the rapidly growing Kachinas girls program here in Phoenix.
After a season in Connecticut, Kaliya signed with the Boston Pride where she played for two more seasons.
Her jersey has moderate wear with a few stick and puck marks in both sleeves, and some loose threads and a little pilling throughout. There are sweat stains around the neck and shoulder areas, as well as in the waist near the hem. There’s a nice mark on the back numbers, as well.
Johnson’s jersey is MeiGray tagged and has a MeiGray patch on the back hem.