 Konnie Johannesson was born in Glenboro, Manitoba, son of Icelandic immigrants Jónas Jóhannesson and Rósa Einarsdóttir.In 1897, the family moved to Winnipeg, where he attended Somerset and Kelvin schools.Along with other players of Icelandic descent, Johannesson began playing hockey with the Winnipeg Falcons in 1913.