A 'freak' accident happened on the ice that caused a former NHL player to die on the ice in the middle of a live game. The player, 29-year-old Adam Johnson, is an American who played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a handful of games during the 2019 and 2020 season. He was currently playing for the Nottingham Panthers when a player from the Sheffield Steelers cut Adam Johnson's throat with an ice skate as the opposing player's foot when high in the air, striking Adam Johnson in the neck, who then died on the ice after bleeding profusely. This game was in the Elite Ice Hockey League and was being played at the Sheffield Utilita Arena, as reported in a sports news article by AP. The sports news article also stated the following:
"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. “The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam’s family, his partner and all his friends at this extremely difficult time. Everyone at the club including players, staff, management and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam’s passing.”
A Minnesota native, Johnson spent 13 games over parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons playing for Pittsburgh in the NHL before spending the 2020-21 season in Sweden with the Malmo Redhawks. He had a goal and three assists for the Penguins. "The Pittsburgh Penguins join the entire hockey world in mourning the life of Adam Johnson, whose life tragically ended far too soon,” the Penguins said Sunday in a statement. “We offer our deepest condolences to Adam’s family and friends, as well as all of Adam’s past and present teammates and coaches. Adam will always be part of the Penguins family.”
