Adam Johnson: Ice hockey player’s shirt number retired as memorial game held in his memory

A memorial game of ice hockey has been played in Nottingham for Adam Johnson, the player who died after his neck was slashed by a skate.

His team, Nottingham Panthers, returned to the ice on Saturday for the first time since he died on 28 October.

Johnson was hit in the neck by an opposition player’s skate during an away match against Sheffield Steelers.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and was later bailed.

The Panthers and their opponents, Manchester Storm, wore special jerseys for the memorial game, which were due to be raffled afterwards.

As the players took to the ice at the Motorpoint Arena, the sell-out crowd chanted Johnson’s name.

Once the lights had been faded, his picture was displayed on the main scoreboard above the rink.

The words “forever our 47” were shown in honour of his shirt number, which is being retired.

The players tapped their sticks on the ice as the crowd applauded.

Fans chanted Johnson’s name during the 47th minute of the match.

Supporters have continued to lay tributes outside the Motorpoint Arena to Johnson, who also had a spell with the Pittsburgh Penguins, joining the Panthers ahead of the 2023-24 season.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on 3 November.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the Minnesota-born star died as a result of a fatal neck injury.

Read more:
Adam Johnson’s family ‘knew he was in trouble’
Neck guards will not be made mandatory

There is a new focus on neck guards, and the English Ice Hockey Association has said they will become mandatory from next year.

But the Elite League, in which the Panthers compete, is not under its control.

The Elite Ice Hockey League has said it will not make neck guards mandatory, but will “strongly encourage” players and officials to wear them.

All proceeds from the sale of the jerseys will be donated to the Love for Hibbing & Hockey Memorial Fund, which was established to support charitable causes in Johnson’s hometown area of Hibbing, Minnesota.

The match ended in a 4-4 draw.