DULUTH, Minn. — Adam Johnson, a former University of Minnesota-Duluth men's hockey player and Hibbing native, has died after a "freak accident" Saturday while playing in England.
The 29-year-old Minnesota native was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers when a skate blade cut his neck during the second period of the game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
“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 team said Sunday morning.
"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."
According to the Nottingham Panthers, the injury occurred midway through the second period in a game against the Sheffield Steelers. The teams returned to their locker rooms before spectators were eventually asked to leave the arena.
The Minnesota Wild also paid tribute to Johnson on social media, saying "The State of Hockey is grieving for Adam, his family, and his hockey community."
"Right now it's just a numb feeling," said Mark DeCenzo, who coached Johnson in high school on the Hibbing/Chisholm team.
While many know Johnson through his hockey career, DeCenzo said he will remember Johnson for who he was as a person.
"I'll never forget him as a player... but I appreciate him more as an individual and he was a joy to coach," DeCenzo said.
Johnson served as captain his junior and senior years and was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award.
"He wasn't a real speaker. He wasn't going to come in the locker room and 'ra ra' and he wasn't going to get on somebody but he led through example," DeCenzo said. "He was the kind of guy who could change a game."
Johnson went on to play hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD).
"He was kind of a scrawny guy and he could fly like the wind. He got the puck up the wall and he was gone," said Riley Tufte, a Blaine native who played at UMD with Johnson. "He was blowing past defensemen and he was a big part of our UMD team that made it to the Frozen Four my freshman year. "
Tufte said the pair kept in touch throughout the years, seeing each other at weddings and every summer for the alumni golf tournament.
"He's one of those guys where if he wasn't there, you were asking where he was," Tufte said. "And if he wasn't there, it was different. It wasn't the same."
Tufte now plays for the Colorado Eagles. He recalled putting on his skates on Sunday, saying, "Today I laced them up for the first time since the incident and that's all you can kind of think about... was what he went through."
UMD released a statement on Sunday, which read in part:
"We are deeply devastated to learn last evening of the passing of Adam Johnson. Adam was loved and admired by his teammates, coaches, and staff. As talented as he was on the ice, he was an even better person. Adam remained connected to the program, and for our time with him we are eternally grateful. Adam, we love you, we will miss you."
In his career, Johnson skated in 81 of 82 games after joining the Bulldog program in 2015-16 and had 55 points (24 goals and 31 assists). He was also a two-time NCHC All-Academic Team selection, according to UMD.
Johnson played for the Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets before spending two seasons playing juniors in the USHL. He went on to play two seasons with the Bulldogs, helping them to a national runner-up finish in 2017. That summer, Johnson signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he went on to appear in 13 NHL games. Johnson's only NHL goal came in a game on Oct. 12, 2019 against the Minnesota Wild.
People are remembering Johnson by putting their hockey sticks outside their doors. On social media, people shared their photos with the hashtag "sticksoutforadam."
The Panthers posted on social media a GoFundMe that has been set up to help raise money for the "Love for Hibbing and Hockey Memorial Fund," which was created in Johnson's memory.
The UK Elite League announced the three games scheduled for Sunday in Belfast, Fife and Guildford have been postponed following Johnson’s death.
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