American hockey player Adam Johnson died following a “freak accident” during his team’s game in England on Saturday. The 29-year-old was representing the Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game against Sheffield Steelers when another player’s skateblade cut his neck.
The incident happened during the second period of the Elite Ice Hockey League match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, and it was halted as the injured player was removed from the ice for emergency treatment. A video has since gone viral, showing the moment when the blade hit Johnson’s neck. The forward was rushed to the hospital, but he later passed away.
A statement from the Panthers read: “Everyone at the club, players and staff, is heartbroken to learn that Adam Johnson has passed away. We send our condolences to his family, friends, and teammates.”
Johnson spent 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins over parts of two seasons. The Minnesota native played college hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, where he scored 139 points in two seasons and helped the Bulldogs make it to two NCAA Frozen Four tournaments. He then signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing 13 games for them over the next few seasons. He spent time in the AHL with their affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, before joining Malmo of the Swedish Hockey League and returning to North America with AHL teams Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) and Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia Flyers).
During his short NHL stint, Johnson was known for his tenacious play on the ice and his dry sense of humor. He also remained close to the UMD men’s hockey program, and his goal was to clinch a spot for the Bulldogs in the 2015 NCAA tournament. “As talented as he was on the ice, he was an even better person off it,” UMD assistant GM Bill Guerin said in a tribute post on X.
On Sunday, the Penguins issued a statement on their website saying they joined the “entire hockey world in mourning the life of Adam Johnson, whose career ended far too soon.” The EIHL has since posted a message on its social media pages, asking people to respect the privacy of Johnson’s loved ones at this difficult time.
All of Sunday’s EIHL games were canceled after the tragic incident, which had thousands of fans evacuated from the arena. Tributes to the fallen star have been pouring in from across the globe, with former teammates calling him a great friend and teammate who was always there for them. Kari Johnson, the widow of the former Bulldogs star, says her husband would treat his friends like kings and be generous with his money. “He was just a good guy,” she tells the BBC. “He just treated everyone like they were important.” He was 29.
