The fiancée of the ice hockey star who died from a freak accident has paid tribute to her ‘sweet, sweet angel’ today, saying: ‘I’ll miss you forever and love you always.’
Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson’s throat was cut by an opponent’s skate blade when they collided during a match against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday.
The 29-year-old briefly stood up, bleeding profusely on to the ice, before collapsing again during the game in Sheffield. He received immediate medical attention, with CPR performed on the ice, and was taken to hospital but could not be saved.
Now, his girlfriend Ryan Wolfe has paid tribute on Instagram, posting a picture of him and saying: ‘My sweet, sweet angel. I’ll miss you forever and love you always.’
Fans have left a sea of flowers and tributes in Nottingham today, and it comes as:
- The player who accidentally slashed Johnson’s throat was trolled online;
- A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £12,000 for Johnson’s family;
- A team based in Oxford have made neck guards mandatory for all players;
- South Yorkshire Police detectives continue to investigate the tragic incident.
Supporters have rallied around ‘distraught’ Matt Petgrave who accidentally killed Johnson with his boot blade in front of 8,000 horrified spectators. After the incident, players formed a shield to hide what was happening from public view.
Ryan Wolfe and Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson, at a family wedding in June 2022
Adam Johnson and Ryan Wolfe, pictured in July 2022, had become engaged over the summer
The tribute posted by his Ryan Wolfe, fiancée of Nottingham Panthers star Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson in action for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL in Columbus, Ohio, in 2017
Matt Petgrave (file image) crashed into one of Johnson’s teammates in a collision which saw him lose balance before his leg lifted up and made contact with Johnson’s neck
Minnesota-born Johnson and Miss Wolfe had become engaged over the summer and lived together in England, his former college teammate Riley Tufte told The Athletic.
Ms Wolfe, who is originally from Oak Grove in Minnesota, was in the crowd and ran onto the ice following the incident before praying for Johnson, it was claimed in The Sun.
Johnson is survived by his father Davey, mother Sue and an older brother, also called Ryan. A family friend told The Athletic that his grandmother Marilyn was ‘his biggest fan’.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £12,000 to raise funds for Johnson’s bereaved family, and it has received more than 700 donations so far.
The tragedy has now prompted calls for professional players to wear neck guards – which is mandatory only for players aged under 20 in this country.
There have been two previous neck-slashing incidents in North America’s National Hockey League (NHL) – but in both incidents the players were saved by prompt treatment from medics.
Following the weekend’s incident, NIHL Division 1 South team Oxford City Stars said it would introduce mandatory neck guards for all players, adding that these would be a ‘non-negotiable component’ of attire during all practices and games.
Earlier in his career Johnson played 13 times for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL before competing in leagues in North America and Europe. He signed for Nottingham Panthers in August.
The incident on Saturday happened in the 35th minute of the Elite Ice Hockey League match in front of 8,000 fans at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. The game was later abandoned.
Footage showed how Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave crashed into one of Johnson’s teammates on Saturday in a collision which saw him lose balance before his leg lifted up and made contact with Johnson’s neck.
Video of the incident showed Johnson getting to his feet, with blood pouring on to the ice. He was helped by a referee and a teammate as he headed off the rink, but collapsed on to the ice.
Peter Spencer, the BBC Radio Sheffield ice hockey reporter who was at the game, said the home team’s doctor and the Panthers physio ‘were straight out on the ice to attend to him’.
They were joined by paramedics and two trauma nurses from the crowd.
After players formed a ring to shield Johnson being given treatment, screens were brought down on the ice but the medical team was seen performing CPR before Johnson was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.
Adam Johnson, seen seconds before the freak incident at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday
People lay flowers and tributes for Johnson outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham today
Lit candles are among the tributes left outside
People lay flowers and heartwarming tributes for Johnson
A message board with a tribute to Johnson outside the Nottingham Arena
An ambulance outside Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday evening after the freak accident
A GoFundMe page was set up over the weekend to raise money for Johnson’s bereaved family
Mr Spencer added that hockey was ‘a fast and physical and at times brutal game’ but it was ‘certainly not an incident that I have ever seen the like of and hopefully I will not see the like of again’.
Mr Petgrave was described as ‘absolutely distraught’ following the incident – but has since suffered hateful and abusive messages on social media.
Panthers fan Tina Taylor said it was a ‘one in a million chance occurrence and will probably never happen again’, adding: ‘He was absolutely distraught by the death of an opponent but it was a tragic accident and he was not to blame.’
Julie Whitnum, another Panthers supporter, said the accident was a ‘one off, it was awful’, adding: ‘It was not a deliberate or foul play.’
Panthers fan Hazel Woods, who witnessed the tragedy, said: ‘What happened was horrible and I can’t get the image out of my head. It is like a bad dream I can’t wake up from.’ She added: ‘It was a freak accident, totally tragic, and no one was to blame.’
Caroline Crossland, a spectator at the match, commented on X: ‘Don’t even know how to feel or what to think after the horrific accident we saw tonight.’
In reference to the player whose skate caused the fatal injury, she added: ‘Watching him break with shock and trauma was horrific, I can’t imagine how he feels.’
One parent of a shocked fan said: ‘My 17-year-old has come home in bits, he said he can’t un-see what he’s seen tonight. He’s white as a sheet. My thoughts and prayers are with the teams involved.’
A Panthers spokesman said yesterday: ‘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 [Saturday].
‘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.
Tributes were left to Adam Johnson at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena yesterday by fans of both teams
Fans lay flowers outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham yesterday after Johnson’s death
‘Our thoughts are also with the fans and staff of both clubs, especially those who attended or were following the game, who will be devastated following today’s news.
‘The Panthers would like to thank everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances.
‘Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him. The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him.
‘We ask that the privacy of Adam’s family and friends, and everyone at the club is respected at this difficult time as we all seek to come to terms with our grief.’
Yesterday’s three Elite League games in Belfast, Fife and Guildford were postponed following Johnson’s death, while Nottingham later confirmed via X that tomorrow’s home contest against the Glasgow Clan had also been postponed.
The statement read: ‘The club will provide updates on our website and social media regarding future fixtures and all ticket information for postponed games as soon as it is possible to do so.
‘We ask for everyone’s understanding and patience regarding this news and ask that fans refrain from emailing or contacting the club as our staff come to terms with today’s tragic news.’
Johnson played for Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League before spending the 2020-21 season in Sweden with the Malmo Redhawks.
The Penguins said in a statement: ‘The Pittsburgh Penguins join the entire hockey world in mourning the loss of Adam Johnson, whose life tragically ended far too soon.
‘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 a part of the Penguins family. It was our honor to watch him fulfill his dream of playing in the National Hockey League.’
Tributes to Adam Johnson have also been left outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham
Players and staff observe a silence for Adam Johnson at Hillsborough in Sheffield yesterday
A video tribute to Adam Johnson before an Edmonton Oilers match in Alberta yesterday
Ontario Reign players carried out a touching tribute to Adam Johnson on the ice yesterday
The NHL also passed on its condolences. A statement said: ‘The National Hockey League family mourns the passing of former Pittsburgh Penguin Adam Johnson.
‘Our prayers and deepest condolences go to his family, friends and teammates.’
Johnson went on to play in the American Hockey League for the Ontario Reign and in Germany for the Augsburger Panther before agreeing to join Nottingham for the 2023-24 campaign.
A statement from the Elite Ice Hockey League read: ‘The Elite Ice Hockey League is heartbroken to confirm that Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson sadly passed away following a freak accident in Saturday’s game between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers,’ read a league statement.
‘In light of this deeply upsetting news, the Elite League has postponed all games scheduled to take place on Sunday October 29, 2023.
‘The thoughts and condolences of everyone connected with the EIHL are with Adam’s family, friends and teammates at this incredibly sad and difficult time.’
Sheffield said in their own statement: ‘Everyone at the Steelers send their condolences to Adam Johnson’s partner, family and teammates.’
And Barrie Archer, chair of the English Ice Hockey Association, said: ‘The entire EIHA is heartbroken and deeply saddened by Adam’s passing.
‘This is a tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers go out to Adam’s family, friends and ice hockey family at this difficult time.’
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said today: ‘We were called at 8.25pm on Saturday, October 28 to reports that a player had been seriously injured during a Sheffield Steelers versus Nottingham Panthers game at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield.
‘Officers attended the scene alongside other emergency services and one man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased at hospital.
‘Our officers remain at the scene carrying out enquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing. We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our enquiries.’