Johnson was born in Minnesota’s Hibbing. He played junior hockey with the Indiana Ice and Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL) following his high school graduation. He played two seasons of collegiate hockey in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) with the University of Minnesota Duluth after going undrafted.
After playing for the Bulldogs for two seasons in 2016–17, during which he finished second on the team in goals and points with 18 goals in 42 games, Johnson sealed Minnesota-Duluth’s spot in the 2017 Frozen Four with a power play goal in overtime that helped the team defeat Boston University, 3-2. In the NCAA title game, Johnson and the Bulldogs ultimately lost 3-2 to the University of Denver.
How did Adam Johnson die?
The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) team announced on Sunday that American ice hockey forward Adam Johnson passed away following an accident during the Nottingham Panthers’ game against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday.
Following a collision during the game in Sheffield, England, Johnson, 29, was taken to the emergency room. His neck was allegedly injured during the event by a skate blade, though this couldn’t be confirmed right away. Northern General Hospital received him, but the doctors there were unable to save his life.
After Johnson was brought to the hospital by paramedics, the game was halted in the 35th minute, and spectators were urged to evacuate the arena due to a serious medical emergency.
The Nottingham Panthers released a statement expressing their profound sadness upon learning of Adam Johnson’s untimely death following a bizarre tragedy during last night’s game in Sheffield.
In addition to being a superb ice hockey player, Adam, our number 47, was also a fantastic teammate and an amazing person with his entire life ahead of him. The club will always remember him and will mourn him terribly.
The Panthers, along with the supporters and personnel of both teams, extended their sympathies to Johnson’s partner, family, and friends. Johnson played in Germany, Sweden, and the United States before joining the Panthers in August of this year. Johnson’s death was confirmed by the EIHL in a statement, and all Sunday games have been postponed.
A major medical emergency’ was proclaimed in relation to the incident, and the 8,000 fans present were requested to vacate the stadium. After Johnson was fatally injured, players from both teams surrounded him in a circle as a show of respect and privacy, according to witnesses who have since testified.
When the terrible event occurred in the 35th minute of play, emergency personnel raced onto the ice. After being taken to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, the 29-year-old tragically passed away from his wounds.
According to reports, police were still present in the area today. In addition to sending two ambulances, a critical care paramedic, and one patient to the hospital, we also attended to a male patient. Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, home of the Panthers, honored Johnson on social media after the incident.
Playing Career
Johnson decided to accept a contract overseas for the 2020–21 season with the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on December 15, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic postponing the North American season.
Johnson, a top-six forward with the Redhawks, had twelve points and seven goals at the end of the regular season after playing in 21 games. He made the decision to terminate his contract and return to North America on March 27, 2020.
On April 6, 2021, Johnson signed as a free agent with the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ primary affiliate, to play with them for the remainder of the 2020–21 campaign. In just 14 games, Johnson, who offered an offensive presence, scored 11 points.
With the Reign into the 2021–2022 season, Johnson participated in 28 regular season games, dishing out six points and scoring one goal. He was dealt to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on February 17, 2022, in exchange for future considerations.
Following the season, Johnson made the decision to remain a free agent and pursue his career in Europe. He signed a one-year contract with the German team Augsburger Panther of the DEL on September 12, 2022. In 45 regular-season appearances with the Panthers in 2022–23, Johnson tallied seven goals and 22 points, but he was unable to prevent the side from finishing in relegation.
