(ReliableNews.org) – Ice skating is one of America’s favorite winter pastimes. It’s fun for people of all ages and allows them to get some exercise during the harsh winter days. Hockey is also an extremely popular sport that commands millions of fans across the world. That’s what one man was playing when his life tragically came to an end recently.
On October 28, former NHL player Adam Johnson was participating in a hockey game for the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in England when a freak accident occurred. Johnson collided with another person on the ice, and the opposing player’s skate slashed his throat. Medics treated the 29-year-old on the ice and then rushed him to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.
The accident happened during the second period of a match between Johnson’s team, the Nottingham Panthers, and the Sheffield Steelers for the Challenge Cup. After medical personnel took the injured player to the hospital, the teams went back to their locker rooms, and officials asked the fans to go home.
The next morning, the Panthers released a statement notifying the public that Johnson died from his injuries. The team expressed its condolences for Johnson’s loved ones. They asked for privacy for his family as they mourn their loss.
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. pic.twitter.com/lhSOkDu03Q
— The Nottingham Panthers (@PanthersIHC) October 29, 2023
Johnson played for the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team from 2017 to 2020. The team honored him before their game on October 30.
The Pittsburgh Penguins honored Adam Johnson prior to their game pic.twitter.com/X0px3ACAnU
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 30, 2023
In the aftermath of Johnson’s death, the English Ice Hockey Association announced it would now require all players to wear approved neck guards beginning on January 1, 2024. The organization stated that it has issued a “strong recommendation” that players start wearing them now.
In 2022, a Connecticut teenager died from a similar injury during a school hockey match. Teddy Balkind, 16, fell during the game, and another player was unable to stop. The player’s skate cut the teen’s neck open, and he died from blood loss. Over the years, several NHL players have also suffered similar injuries and survived. Unlike England, USA Hockey has not made any changes requiring players to wear neck guards.
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