Former NHL forward Adam Johnson has passed away at the age of 29 due to an on-ice accident during a game in England.
Johnson was competing for the Nottingham Panthers in a game against the Sheffield Steelers when the incident occurred during the second period at Sheffield's Utilita Arena last weekend.
https://twitter.com/UMDMensHockey/status/1718631071376351461
The distressing event, captured in video footage, showed an opposing player's skate striking Johnson's neck, prompting a swift evacuation of the arena as medical responders rushed to the scene.
Johnson had to be rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, as confirmed by the South Yorkshire Police.
https://twitter.com/officialEIHL/status/1718553486143476031
"The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night," the team said Sunday.
"The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam's family, his partner and all his friends at this extremely difficult time. Everyone at the club, including players, staff, management and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam's passing."
A statement from the South Yorkshire Police said that they had initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Johnson's untimely death and urged the public to refrain from engaging in speculative discussions about the incident.
https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1719040769502158910
Johnson's hockey journey
Johnson, a native of Minnesota, had previously played 13 games in the NHL over parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins before spending the 2020-21 season in Sweden with the Malmo Redhawks.
The Penguins joined the global hockey community in mourning Johnson's passing. In a statement, they expressed their heartfelt condolences to Johnson's family, friends and all of his former and current teammates and coaches.
"Adam will always be part of the Penguins family," said the team.
https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1718585578784952342
Before starting his professional career, Johnson showcased his talents on the college ice hockey stage at Minnesota-Duluth, where he played a pivotal role in helping the Bulldogs reach two NCAA Tournaments.
Johnson's career path also included stints with three American Hockey League clubs and a venture to Germany, where he played with the Augsburger Panther in the 2022-23 season before deciding to join the Panthers for the current season.
https://twitter.com/LVPhantoms/status/1718643316596588992
"The Panthers would like to thank everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances," said the Panthers.
"Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him. The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him."
https://twitter.com/PanthersIHC/status/1718550740028039300
Games postponed
In light of the event, the British Elite League announced the postponement of all three games scheduled for Sunday in Belfast, Fife and Guildford. Nottingham's game scheduled for Tuesday has also been postponed.
This tragic incident has also brought attention to the issue of player safety in the sport. The NHL has experienced several skate cut scares in its history, most notably the case of Buffalo goaltender Clint Malarchuk, who miraculously survived a similar incident in 1989.
https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1718670276144050575
The English Ice Hockey Association has announced that neck guards, typically recommended for beginners, will become mandatory for its players after December 31. This decision applies to all levels of hockey in England below the elite division.
Adam Johnson is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins in 2001 and 2003. Johnson attended and played baseball at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego. (wikipedia)
The Elite Ice Hockey League , sometimes referred to as the British Elite League or, for sponsorship reasons, the Viaplay Elite League, is an ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. (wikipedia)