Former NHL player Adam Johnson has passed away at 29. Johnson was playing in Britain’s Elite Ice Hockey League for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers Saturday, and he was involved in an on-ice collision early in the second period.
That collision saw reports that Johnson’s throat was cut. And play was stopped and then the game was cancelled (and the nearly 8,000 fans in attendance were asked to leave Sheffield’s Utilita Arena due to the “major medical emergency”) while he received on-ice medical treatment (with players screening that from the crowd before shields were brought out). He was then was rushed to hospital. But the EIHL announced Johnson’s passing Sunday after this “freak accident,” adding that all their games for the day would be cancelled:
The Elite Ice Hockey League is heartbroken to confirm that Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson sadly passed away following a freak accident in Saturday’s game between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers. pic.twitter.com/9MtTzvmojM
— Elite Ice Hockey League | #EIHL (@officialEIHL) October 29, 2023
The thoughts and condolences of everyone connected with the EIHL are with Adam's family, friends and team mates at this incredibly sad and difficult time. We would also ask everyone to respect the privacy of Adam’s family at this time.
— Elite Ice Hockey League | #EIHL (@officialEIHL) October 29, 2023
Johnson was 29. He was born in Hibbing, Minnesota and played junior hockey in the USHL with the Indiana Ice and Sioux City Musketeers. He then played two seasons of NCAA hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, scoring a crucial overtime goal in 2017 to beat Boston University and seal their Frozen Four berth (they’d eventually fall to the University of Denver in the championship game). After that, Johnson attended a prospect camp with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and signed a developmental contract with them.
Johnson played for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2017-2018 and 2018-19. He was called up for six NHL games that latter season. He also played seven games at the NHL level with the Penguins in 2019-20.
In 2020-21, with the NHL season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson played overseas with the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League, then returned to North America and signed with the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He played in the AHL with the Reign and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021 and 2022, then went to Germany with Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, and then signed with Nottingham ahead of this year.
Many of Johnson’s former teams, teammates, and the rest of the hockey world offered tributes to him Sunday:
The National Hockey League family mourns the passing of former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson. Our prayers and deepest condolences go to his family, friends and teammates. https://t.co/kgLN8bf0RV pic.twitter.com/fYEiuGw0yC
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 29, 2023
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 29, 2023
I am beyond sad for Adam's family, friends, teammates, former teammates, and everyone who was in that building yesterday and saw something they will never be able to unsee.
Our vast Bulldog family is hurting today.
Rest in peace, Adam Johnson.
I don't know what else to say. https://t.co/SqhYPDtTz4
— Bruce Ciskie (@BruceCiskie) October 29, 2023
We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of former @WBSPenguins @OntarioReign and @LVPhantoms forward Adam Johnson following an injury while playing with the @PanthersIHC last night. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, teammates and friends throughout hockey. pic.twitter.com/4x8RnJwCww
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 29, 2023
We are deeply saddened to learn that former Hibbing star and UMD Bulldog Adam Johnson passed away after suffering a tragic injury on Saturday night with the Nottingham Panthers. The State of Hockey is grieving for Adam, his family, and his hockey community. pic.twitter.com/DIsDpZzJ45
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 29, 2023
The Alliance of European Hockey Clubs is completely devastated and heartbroken by the tragic news from one of our member clubs Nottingham @PanthersIHC that Adam Johnson has passed away following an on-ice accident on Saturday. Our thoughts are with Adam’s family and friends. 💔 https://t.co/xSDVh9Zs6t
— EuropeanHockeyClubs (@EHCAlliance) October 29, 2023
Adam Johnson is from Hibbing, Minn., the same hometown as Bob Dylan, Roger Maris and Kevin McHale.
In 2019, he joked: “Maybe I can be as big as them.”
Gosh, he was such a gentle, pleasant human to talk to during his time here in Pittsburgh.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) October 29, 2023
Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers fans came together at Motorpoint Arena this afternoon along with members of the Panthers playing and coaching staff to lay flowers and pay their respects to Adam Johnson. pic.twitter.com/vPYlGqtWyN
— BBC Nottingham Sport (@BBCRNS) October 29, 2023
Thoughts and prayers to Adam Johnson’s family and everyone he touched. He was a great teammate and person. That smile and dry sense of humor will be missed. Rest peacefully my friend.
— Brett Sutter (@sutter_brett) October 29, 2023
Our thoughts go out to all of Johnson’s family and friends, and to everyone impacted by this.
[ESPN]
