Ice hockey player, Adam Johnson dies in ‘freak accident’

8,000 people in the crowd were asked to leave the venue after police were called to Sheffield Utilita Arena around 8:25pm on Saturday.

Adam Johnson started his professional career with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2017 and made his way through to The Nottingham Panthers.

Pittsburgh Penguins game in 2019. CREDIT: DAVE REGINEK/NHLI VIA GETTY

The team played against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday, and took an unexpected turn when Johnsons throat was cut by an opponents skate blade after they both collided. He then tried to get up and skate before collapsing again.

The Nottingham Panthers put out a statement: “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.”

Christian Bennett, a journalist for the Guardian was at the game and said: “Two players blindsided each other, just bumped into each other… The Sheffield player clearly got knocked off his feet and his skate went up and slit [the other player’s] throat. I’ve never seen that amount of blood come out of anyone at any sort of pace. It is one of the grimmest things I’ve ever seen at a sports event… Johnson got up again and tried to skate before collapsing after about three steps… There were around 8,000 people watching, some of them children…. It was an absolute family atmosphere … everyone was crying. 

Both teams formed a shield to block him from the public view while he received treatment until the arena made an announcement for everyone to leave but stay in their cars so the ambulance could get there, then proceeded to put screens around him.

Nottingham Panthers players laid out flowers and spoke to hundreds of fans who stood at Motorpoint Arena to pay respects. Both teams later came out today and stood together for a moment of silence to honour Johnson.

Aasiyah Salloo