In a tragic incident that occured in the ice hockey arena, American player Adam Johnson passed away after his neck was cut by a snake blade during a Challenge Cup game between Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) teams Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers. The match, being played at the Sheffield Arena in Nottingham, had to be stopped in the 35th minute and eventually called off after Johnson suffered a severe cut on his throat. (Sports News)
The raised leg of an opposition player caught the 29-year-old Johnson, which caused heavy bleeding. He was immediately helped off the ice. There were around 8,000 spectators at the venue at the time of the incident, many of whom were said to be traumatised and in tears before being asked to leave the building.
A statement from the Nottingham Panthers read: "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 Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam's family, his partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time."
The statement added: "Everyone at the club including players, staff, management and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam's passing."
Johnson, a Minnesota native, spent 13 games over parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons playing for Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League before spending the 2020-21 season in Sweden with the Malmo Redhawks. He had a goal and three assists for the Penguins.
"Our thoughts are also with the fans and staff of both clubs, especially those who attended or were following the game, who will be devastated following today's news. The Panthers would like to thank everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances. 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,” Panthers' statement further read.
Later, all three games scheduled in Belfast, Fife and Guildford were postponed following Johnson’s death. Nottingham’s game scheduled for Tuesday also was postponed.
Tributes have poured in for Johnson. "I lost half of my heart today," wrote his mother Kari. "Love you always Munch."
