Adam Johnson

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 died in 2023 after an on-ice collision resulted in a cut to his neck from a skate.

Early life

Johnson was born June 22, 1994, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, to Susan and Davey Johnson.[1] After graduating from high school, he played junior 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, he played two seasons of collegiate hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).

Following his sophomore season with the Bulldogs in 2016–17, where he scored 18 goals and tallied 37 points in 42 games and finished second on the club in both goals and points, Johnson clinched Minnesota-Duluth's berth in the 2017 Frozen Four when he scored an overtime, power-play goal to defeat Boston University, 3–2. Johnson and the Bulldogs eventually fell to the University of Denver, 3–2, in the NCAA championship game.

Johnson attended the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect development camp before opting to conclude his collegiate career early, agreeing to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on July 6, 2017.

Playing career

Johnson was the second-leading scorer for American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2017–18 season and made his National Hockey League debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 21, 2019, in a 2–1 win at the Nashville Predators. He played 13 total NHL games and scored one goal in a 7–4 win at the Minnesota Wild in his home state on October 12, 2019.

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

On April 6, 2021, Johnson signed as a free agent for the remainder of the 2020–21 season with the Ontario Reign of the AHL, the primary affiliate to the Los Angeles Kings. Adding an offensive presence, Johnson posted 11 points in 14 games.

Remaining with the Reign into the following 2021–22 season, Johnson registered one goal and six points through 28 regular season games before he was traded to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in exchange for future considerations on February 17, 2022.

As a free agent in the following off-season, Johnson opted to resume his European career, signing a one-year deal with German club, Augsburger Panther of the 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, however was unable to help prevent the Panthers finish in a relegation position. Johnson left the club at the conclusion of his contract on March 17, 2023.

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

Death

On October 28, 2023, Johnson was fatally injured in a game against the Sheffield Steelers at Utilita Arena when his neck was cut by the skate of Steelers player Matt Petgrave during an on-ice collision. After the impact, Johnson attempted to skate to the team bench before collapsing on the ice; players on both sides locked arms to form a protective ring around Johnson while medical professionals tended to him before screens were put up and the arena evacuated. Johnson was eventually transferred and formally pronounced dead at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, at the age of 29. News of Johnson's death was publicly 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, and numerous leagues and teams worldwide, alongside various politicians representing Nottinghamshire, issued statements mourning Johnson's death. A fan fundraising campaign was launched raising money to support Johnson's family, surpassing its initial goal of £5,000 within a few hours, later being raised to £10,000 before being surpassed that same day. Following Johnson's death, hundreds of fans assembled outside Nottingham Arena, home rink of the Panthers, alongside Panthers players and personnel to lay flowers and other tributes in a makeshift memorial for the player.