Nottingham Panthers players paid tribute to their former teammate Adam Johnson in the first match after his tragic death.
On 28 October, a Challenge Cup match between Sheffield Steelers and Panthers was abandoned in the second half when Johnson, 29, cut his throat due to a skate. The arena announced that the match would be postponed and both teams returned to their locker rooms. Johnson was transported to a local hospital, where he died.
The Panthers took to the ice at Motorpoint Arena on Saturday for a memorial game against the Manchester Storm. In the 47th minute, 10,000 spectators in the stadium stood up to applaud Johnson, who wore number 47. The match ended with a score of 4:4. Outside the arena, fans held a memorial, laying wreaths, flowers and T-shirts near a photo of Johnson.
“We are proud to announce that we are retiring Adam Johnson’s number 47,” the Panthers posted on social media.
In November, South Yorkshire Police arrested a hockey player on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of the Nottingham Panthers forward, but released him on bail. The investigation is ongoing. Earlier media reported that Johnson was fatally injured by Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave. After the tragedy, the hockey player received angry messages on social networks, including death wishes.
During his career, Johnson played 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL. In connection with this tragic incident, leaders of the NHL and other leagues recommended that hockey players use neck protection during games.
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
