Adam Johnson Ice hockey Injury. This was a kung-fu kick by the guy in red. RIP!
Adam Johnson, a 29-year-old former NHL player from Minnesota, died after suffering a severe cut to his neck from a skate blade during a game in England on Saturday, October 29, 2023. Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers in the Challenge Cup, a tournament involving teams from the UK and Europe.Â
The incident occurred in the first period when Johnson collided with a Steelers player and fell to the ice. As he was getting up, the Steelers player’s skate accidentally slashed Johnson’s neck, causing a massive bleeding. The game was immediately stopped and Johnson was rushed to the hospital, but he could not be saved.
The death of Adam Johnson shocked and saddened the hockey world and beyond. Many people expressed their condolences and tributes to Johnson and his family on social media and other platforms. Some of them were:
• Nottingham Panthers: The team issued a statement saying that they were “truly devastated” by Johnson’s death and that he was “not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him”. They also thanked the fans, the Steelers, and the emergency services for their support and assistance.
• Sheffield Steelers: The team also issued a statement saying that they were “deeply saddened” by Johnson’s death and that they extended their “heartfelt sympathies” to his family, friends, and teammates. They also praised Johnson as a “talented player” and a “fine young man”.
• NHL: The league released a statement saying that they were “saddened to learn of the passing of Adam Johnson” and that they offered their “sincere condolences” to his loved ones and the Panthers organization. They also recognized Johnson as a “former member of the NHL family” who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018-19.
• Pittsburgh Penguins: The team tweeted that they were “heartbroken” by Johnson’s death and that they remembered him as a “kind person who always had a smile on his face”. They also sent their “thoughts and prayers” to his family, friends, and former teammates.
• Minnesota Wild: The team tweeted that they were “deeply saddened” by Johnson’s death and that they joined the hockey community in mourning his loss. They also said that Johnson was a “proud Minnesotan who represented our state well on and off the ice” .
What are the implications and challenges of the incident?
The incident of Adam Johnson’s death raised some questions and issues about the safety and regulation of hockey, especially in lower-level leagues and countries. Some of them are:
• The lack of protective equipment and medical staff on site. According to some reports, Johnson was not wearing a neck guard, which is a piece of equipment that covers the neck area and can prevent or reduce the risk of skate cuts. Although neck guards are mandatory for youth players in some countries, they are optional for adult players in most leagues.
Some experts and players have advocated for making neck guards mandatory for all levels of hockey . Additionally, some reports suggested that there was no doctor or ambulance present at the arena when Johnson was injured, which may have delayed or compromised his treatment.
• The difficulty of preventing or responding to such incidents. According to some statistics, skate cuts to the neck are rare but potentially fatal injuries that occur in hockey. Between 1972 and 2019, there were 14 reported cases of skate cuts to the neck in professional hockey, resulting in two deaths . However, there may be more cases that are not reported or documented in lower-level leagues or countries.
Some experts and players have suggested some measures to prevent or respond to such incidents, such as improving the design and quality of skates, enforcing stricter rules and penalties for dangerous plays, increasing awareness and education among players and coaches, and providing better training and equipment for medical staff.
