Adam Johnson (ice hockey)

Adam Robert Johnson (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. Johnson was killed in an accident after having his neck cut by another player's skate blade in an on-ice collision, causing him to bleed out.

Early life and education
Johnson was born June 22, 1994, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, to Susan and Davey Johnson. After graduating from Hibbing High School, he played junior ice 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. Undrafted in the National Hockey League (NHL), he played two seasons of collegiate ice hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth's Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs team in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). During his sophomore season, 2016–17, Johnson scored 18 goals and tallied 37 points in 42 games, finished second on the club in both goals and points. He helped Minnesota-Duluth advance to the 2017 Frozen Four with a power play goal to defeat Boston University 3–2 in overtime The Bulldogs eventually fell to the Denver 3–2 in the title game.

Playing career
In July 2017, Johnson signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins after attending the team's prospect camp. Johnson was the second-leading scorer for Pittsburgh's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the 2017–18 season and made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh on March 21, 2019, in a 2–1 win over the Nashville Predators. He played a total of 13 NHL games, and scored one goal in a 7–4 win against the Minnesota Wild on October 12.

With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the North American season, Johnson joined the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the 2020–21 season on December 15, 2020. Appearing with the Redhawks in a top-six forward role, Johnson added seven goals and 12 points through 21 regular season games before ending his contract and return to North America on March 27, 2021.

On April 6, 2021, Johnson signed with the Ontario Reign of the AHL, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, for the remainder of the 2020–21 season. Johnson posted 11 points in 14 games for the Reign. Remaining with the Reign into the 2021–22 season, Johnson registered one goal and six points through 28 regular season games before being traded on February 17, 2022, to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in exchange for future considerations.

Johnson returned to Europe in the 2022 off-season, signing a one-year deal with the Augsburger Panther of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), on September 12, 2022. In the 2022–23 season, Johnson posted seven goals and 22 points through 45 regular season games. The Panthers finished the season in the relegation zone and Johnson left the club after his contract on March 17, 2023.

In August 2023, Johnson joined the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) for the 2023–24 season.

Death
On October 28, 2023, before 8,000 spectators at Utilita Arena against the Sheffield Steelers, Johnson's throat was cut by the skate of Steelers' player Matt Petgrave during an on-ice collision at the 35th minute of the game. A video of the incident showed Petgrave's left skate kick up towards Johnson as he began to fall after colliding with another Panthers player. After the impact, Johnson attempted to skate to the team bench while bleeding out, before collapsing on the ice. As paramedics tended to his injury, other players locked arms to form a protective ring around him. Later, protective sheets were raised, players returned to the locker rooms, and spectators were asked to leave the arena. Johnson was transferred to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 29 years old. News of Johnson's death was withheld until the following morning while Johnson's relatives were alerted.

In response to Johnson's death, the EIHL suspended all games scheduled for October 29. Leagues and teams worldwide issued statements mourning Johnson's death and held pre-game ceremonies in his honor. A fan fundraising campaign to support Johnson's family surpassed its initial goal of £5,000 within a few hours and its adjusted goal of £10,000 the same day. Following Johnson's death, hundreds of fans assembled outside Nottingham Arena, home rink of the Panthers, alongside Panthers players and staff to lay flowers and other tributes in a makeshift memorial. Moments of silence were also held across the NHL.

Johnson's teammate Westin Michaud speculated that Petgrave's actions "were unintentional and anyone suggesting otherwise is mistaken". In a statement on Twitter, the Nottingham Panthers speculated Johnson's death was the result of a "freak accident".

The South Yorkshire Police opened an investigation into the death. In England, an act that can reasonably be expected to cause grievous bodily harm to a person but results in their death can constitute murder; in such a case, a lesser constructive manslaughter charge is also available to prosecutors. An autopsy report confirmed that Johnson died from the wound to his neck. On November 14, 17 days after the incident, South Yorkshire Police announced the arrest of an unnamed man on suspicion of manslaughter in Johnson's death. He was later released on police bail.

Legacy
Johnson's death prompted an examination of player safety in the game of hockey and led to several mandates on neck protection. The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA), the governing body of the sport in England and Wales at all levels below the Elite League, introduced a neck guard mandate beginning in 2024. All Canadian Hockey League leagues (OHL, QMJHL, and WHL) also mandated neck guards effective November 4, 2023. However, the Elite Ice Hockey League, which Johnson had been playing for at the time of his death, announced that it had no plans to mandate neck guards. Though not required in the league, several NHL players began wearing neck guards in games and practices following Johnson's death, including Anze Kopitar, Tyler Bertuzzi, T. J. Oshie, and Cole Koepke. USA Hockey approved a new policy, effective August 1, 2024, that requires all players 18 years of age and under to wear neck laceration protection in games and practices.

Personal life
At the time of his death, according to family members, Johnson had purchased an engagement ring he planned to give to his girlfriend of three years, Ryan Wolfe.

Awards and honors
The Nottingham Panthers retired Johnson's number 47 jersey number at a ceremony on November 18, 2023.

Hibbing High School retired Adam's high school number 7 on December 5, 2023.