Former NHL player Adam Johnson has died after a “freak accident” during the game in England

The hockey world was rocked Sunday by news that former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Adam Johnson died at age 29 after being cut by a skate blade in what the team called a “freak accident.”

The accident happened in Utilita Arena Sheffield during an EIHL match between Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers on Saturday. More than 8,000 fans were there asked to leave the arena during Johnson’s medical emergency.

Nottingham Panthers confirmed the news on Sunday, saying “everyone at the club, including the players, staff, management and owner, are heartbroken at the news of Adam’s death”.

The EIHL postponed all Sunday games following Johnson’s death. The BBC’s Sarah Hawley notes that fans and team-mates gathered to mourn him on Sunday.

Between 2018-19 and 2019-20, Johnson played in 13 games with the Penguins, scoring one goal and four points. The Penguins paid tribute to Johnson on Sunday, mourning a life that ended too soon but adding that “it was our honor to see him fulfill his dream of playing in the National Hockey League.”

Many reacted to the heartbreaking news by sharing images of Johnson scoring his first and only NHL goal.

Johnson’s former Penguins teammate Brett Sutter remembered him not only as a “great teammate and person” but also for his dry sense of humor.

Penguins beat reporter Seth Rorabaugh shared some of Johnson’s intelligence, as he hails from the same area of ​​Minnesota as Bob Dylan, Kevin McHale and Roger Maris.

The NHL also released a statement in his memory.

“The National Hockey League family mourns the passing of former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson. Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Tributes are pouring in from many corners of the hockey world, including the AHL, where he played long before continuing his career overseas.

Johnson is the second player in the past two years to die after being cut by a skate blade. Teddy Balkind, a 16-year-old high school hockey player from Connecticut, died in January 2022 after cutting his throat during a game. No NHL player has died from a skating injury, but there have been plenty of scares, most notably Buffalo Sabers goaltender Clint Malarchuk in 1989 and Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik in 2008.