Former NHL ahead and Nottingham Panthers participant Adam Johnson has died after a “freak coincidence” in a fit in Britain’s best hockey league, his membership has showed.
The Problem Cup sport towards the Sheffield Steelers was once stopped within the thirty fourth minute after an on-ice collision during which Johnson seemed to undergo a significant reduce to the neck from a skate. Enthusiasts have been later requested to depart the stadium in Sheffield because of what the membership’s X (previously Twitter) account referred to as a “main scientific emergency”.
The Panthers mentioned on Sunday they have been “actually devastated” to announce that the 29-year-old American had died.
A remark learn: “The Nottingham Panthers are actually devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically gave up the ghost following a freak coincidence on the sport in Sheffield remaining evening.”
They added: “The membership will dearly pass over him and can by no means ever omit him.
“Adam, our quantity 47, was once no longer simplest an impressive ice hockey participant, but additionally an excellent team-mate and a fantastic particular person together with his complete existence forward of him.
“The Panthers want to ship our ideas and condolences to Adam’s circle of relatives, his spouse, and all his pals at this extraordinarily tricky time.
“Everybody on the membership together with gamers, personnel, control and possession are heartbroken on the information of Adam’s passing.”
The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) mentioned all video games scheduled to happen on Sunday, October 29 were postponed in mild of “deeply scary information”. The Panthers’ sport towards Glasgow Extended family on October 31 has additionally been postponed.
Johnson had joined the Panthers this summer season to play within the EIHL, which has 10 franchises together with groups in Northern Eire, Wales, Scotland and England.
He prior to now performed for the Pittsburgh Penguins within the NHL, scoring a function and 4 issues in 13 video games over portions of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
Sooner than becoming a member of Pittsburgh, Johnson performed collegiately on the College of Minnesota Duluth for 2 seasons.
‘Whole hockey international in mourning’
Talking on Saturday night, former Pittsburgh heart Matt Cullen described Johnson as “an unreal child, simply an excellent man”.
“Salt-of-the-earth more or less man,” Cullen mentioned. “So, so humble and a very simple particular person to be round. He’s of the ones guys who simply loves the sport and being across the rink with the fellows.”
The Penguins launched a remark on Sunday morning, UK time, during which they mentioned they joined “all the hockey international in mourning”.
They added: “Adam will at all times be a part of the Penguins circle of relatives. It was once our honour to look at him satisfy his dream of enjoying within the Nationwide hockey League.”
The EIHL mentioned it was once “heartbroken” and mentioned: “The ideas and condolences of everybody hooked up with the EIHL are with Adam’s circle of relatives, pals and team-mates at this extremely unhappy time.”
Sheffield Steelers posted: “Everybody on the Steelers ship their condolences to Adam Johnson’s spouse, circle of relatives and team-mates.”
Sheffield Wednesday mentioned they might cling a minute’s silence forward in their Championship football sport on Sunday in reminiscence of Johnson.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman contributed to this tale.
(Photograph: Joe Sargent / NHLI by the use of Getty Pictures)
