Adam Johnson (ice hockey)

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Adam Johnson
Born (1994-06-22)June 22, 1994
Grand Rapids, Minnesota, U.S.
Died October 28, 2023(2023-10-28) (aged 29)
Sheffield, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017–2023

Adam Robert Johnson[1] (June 22, 1994 – October 28, 2023) was an American professional ice hockey forward. He played 13 games in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons. He also played in Europe with the Malmö Redhawks, Augsburger Panther and Nottingham Panthers.[2] Johnson died in 2023 after an on-ice collision resulted in a cut to his neck from a skate.

Early life

Johnson[1] was born June 22, 1994, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota,[3] to Susan and Davey Johnson.[1] After graduating from high school, he played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Indiana Ice and Sioux City Musketeers, and was named a USHL All-Star in 2015.[4] Undrafted, he played two seasons of collegiate hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).[1]

Following his sophomore season with the Bulldogs in 2016–17, where he scored 18 goals and tallied 37 points in 42 games and finished second on the club in both goals and points, Johnson clinched Minnesota-Duluth's berth in the 2017 Frozen Four when he scored an overtime, power-play goal to defeat Boston University, 3–2.[5] Johnson and the Bulldogs eventually fell to the University of Denver, 3–2, in the NCAA championship game.[6]

Johnson attended the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect development camp before opting to conclude his collegiate career early, agreeing to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on July 6, 2017.[7][8]

Playing career

Johnson was the second-leading scorer for American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2017–18 season and made his National Hockey League debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 21, 2019, in a 2–1 win at the Nashville Predators.[9] He played 13 total NHL games and scored one goal in a 7–4 win at the Minnesota Wild in his home state on October 12, 2019.[10][11]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the North American season, Johnson opted to sign a contract abroad for the 2020–21 season with Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on December 15, 2020.[12] Appearing with the Redhawks in a top-six forward role, Johnson added seven goals and 12 points through 21 regular season games before opting to break his contract and return to North America on March 27, 2020.[13]

On April 6, 2021, Johnson signed as a free agent for the remainder of the 2020–21 season with the Ontario Reign of the AHL, the primary affiliate to the Los Angeles Kings.[14] Adding an offensive presence, Johnson posted 11 points in 14 games.[15]

Remaining with the Reign into the following 2021–22 season, Johnson registered one goal and six points through 28 regular season games before he was traded to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in exchange for future considerations on February 17, 2022.[15]

As a free agent in the following off-season, Johnson opted to resume his European career, signing a one-year deal with German club, Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), on September 12, 2022.[16] In the 2022–23 season, Johnson posted seven goals and 22 points through 45 regular season games, however was unable to help prevent the Panthers finish in a relegation position. Johnson left the club at the conclusion of his contract on March 17, 2023.[17]

In August 2023, Johnson agreed to terms to join the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) for the 2023–24 season.[18]

Death

On October 28, 2023, Johnson was fatally injured in a game against the Sheffield Steelers at Utilita Arena when his neck was cut by the skate of Steelers player Matt Petgrave[19] during an on-ice collision.[20][21] After the impact, Johnson attempted to skate to the team bench while bleeding out, before collapsing on the ice; players on both sides locked arms to form a protective ring around Johnson while medical professionals tended to him before screens were put up and the arena evacuated.[22][23] Johnson was eventually transferred to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He was 29 years old.[23] News of Johnson's death was publicly withheld until the following morning while Johnson's relatives were alerted.[24] The South Yorkshire Police are currently investigating Johnson's death.[25]

In response to Johnson's death, the EIHL suspended all games scheduled for October 29, and numerous leagues and teams worldwide, alongside various politicians from Nottingham, issued statements mourning Johnson's death and held various pre-game ceremonies in his honor.[23][26] A fan fundraising campaign was launched raising money to support Johnson's family, surpassing its initial goal of £5,000 within a few hours, later being raised to £10,000 before being surpassed that same day.[27][28] Following Johnson's death, hundreds of fans assembled outside Nottingham Arena, home rink of the Panthers, alongside Panthers players and personnel to lay flowers and other tributes in a makeshift memorial for the player.[24]

After Johnson's death, the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA), which governs the sport in England and Wales at all levels below the Elite League, introduced a neck guard mandate beginning in 2024.[29]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Hibbing High School HS-MN 24 8 15 23 8 — — — — —
2010–11 Hibbing High School HS-MN 25 34 36 70 8 3 4 6 10 0
2011–12 Hibbing High School HS-MN 20 24 28 52 14 3 4 3 7 6
2012–13 Hibbing High School HS-MN 24 16 27 43 70 2 4 0 4 0
2012–13 Indiana Ice USHL 6 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 56 15 31 46 25 8 4 3 7 6
2014–15 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 59 31 40 71 24 5 1 2 3 2
2015–16 University of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 39 6 12 18 8 — — — — —
2016–17 University of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 42 18 19 37 18 — — — — —
2017–18 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 70 11 20 31 16 3 1 0 1 0
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 6 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 67 18 25 43 27 — — — — —
2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 7 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 48 10 24 34 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Malmö Redhawks SHL 21 7 5 12 8 — — — — —
2020–21 Ontario Reign AHL 14 6 5 11 6 1 0 1 1 0
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 28 1 5 6 18 — — — — —
2021–22 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 30 4 8 12 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Augsburger Panther DEL 45 7 15 22 10 — — — — —
2023–24 Nottingham Panthers EIHL 7 4 3 7 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 13 1 3 4 2 — — — — —
Source: Eliteprospects[2]

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref.
USHL
First All-Star Team 2015 [4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Adam Johnson – Men's Hockey – UMD Athletics". Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Athletics. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Adam Johnson at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Adam Johnson Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "USHL First All-Star Team". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Game Recap: Men's Hockey | JOHNSON STRIKES IN OVERTIME AND BULLDOGS PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO THE FROZEN FOUR". UMD Athletics. March 25, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Maiman, Beth (April 9, 2017). "Denver beats UMD 3–2 for first title since 2005". NCAA.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Coe, Brian (July 6, 2017). "Pittsburgh Inks Adam Johnson to Two-Year Deal". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "Penguins sign forward Adam Johnson to two-year, entry-level contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 7, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  9. ^ Cirillo, Chip (March 22, 2019). "Crosby, Penguins beat Predators 2–1 in shootout". Associated Press News. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  10. ^ "Crosby, short-handed Penguins beat winless Wild 7–4". ESPN. Associated Press. October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Lewis, Aimee; Sterling, Wayne (October 29, 2023). "'Outstanding' American ice hockey player Adam Johnson dies in 'freak accident'". CNN. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "Redhawks förstärker med amerikansk forward". malmoredhawks.com (in Swedish). Malmö Redhawks. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "Adam Johnson lämnar Redhawks". malmoredhawks.com (in Swedish). Malmö Redhawks. March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "Reign sign forward Adam Johnson to one-year contract". ontarioreign.com. Ontario Reign. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Reign deal Adam Johnson to Lehigh Valley". ontarioreign.com. Ontario Reign. February 17, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  16. ^ "Stürmer Adam Johnson verstärkt die Panther". aev-panther.de (in German). Augsburger Panther. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "Weitere Personalentscheidungen bei den Panthern". aev-panther.de (in German). Augsburger Panther. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Panthers sign experienced forward Adam Johnson". panthers.co.uk. August 25, 2023. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Kandohla, Tracey; Morgan, Tom (October 29, 2023). "Ice hockey player Matt Petgrave receives hate mail following death of Adam Johnson". The Telegraph.
  20. ^ "Former NHL player Adam Johnson dies after 'freak accident' during hockey game in Britain's top league". The Athletic. October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Brown, Mark (October 29, 2023). "Nottingham Panthers' ice hockey player Adam Johnson dies after 'freak injury'". The Guardian.
  22. ^ "Nottingham Panthers match against Sheffield Steelers abandoned after player suffers serious cut to neck". BBC Sport. October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c "Adam Johnson: Nottingham Panthers forward dies after neck cut in Challenge Cup match". BBC Sport. October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Ice hockey player Adam Johnson dies in 'freak accident' after neck slashed by skate in Sheffield". Sky News.
  25. ^ Nelson, Joe (October 30, 2023). "Police continue investigation of Adam Johnson's fatal hockey incident". Sports Illustrated Minnesota Sports, News, Analysis, and More. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  26. ^ Pridmore, Oliver (October 29, 2023). "Nottingham Panthers full statement as tributes paid to 'outstanding' Adam Johnson". Nottingham Post. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  27. ^ Barlow, Jamie (October 29, 2023). "Heartfelt fundraising campaign to support the family of Nottingham Panthers star Adam Johnson". Nottingham Post. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  28. ^ King, Kieran (October 29, 2023). "Adam Johnson fundraiser reaches £10k after Ice Hockey star's tragic death". Daily Mirror. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  29. ^ "Adam Johnson: Neck guards to be made mandatory in England after ice hockey player's death". BBC Sport. October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

External links

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