Adam Johnson’s fiance has paid a touching tribute to her late partner after he was killed in a freak accident while playing for the Nottingham Panthers. Johnson, 29, suffered a cut to the neck during a Challenge Cup match against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday and later died from his injuries.
Paramedics rushed to Johnson’s aid after he was caught by the skate of an opponent, with the Minnesota native quickly being rushed to Sheffield General Hospital. The fixture was stopped in the 35th minute before the 8,000 fans in attendance were asked to leave the arena due to the incident.
Johnson’s fiancee Ryan Wolfe took to Instagram on Monday morning to pay a heartfelt tribute, sharing a picture of the ice hockey player alongside the caption: “My sweet, sweet angel. I’ll miss you forever and love you always.”
The couple, who lived together in England, are understood to have become engaged over the summer. Ryan is said to have sprinted onto the ice following the accident that killed Johnson as his team-mates formed a ring to give him privacy as he received emergency treatment.
Many fans gathered outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Sunday night to pay their respects to Johnson, with flowers, shirts and heartfelt messages being left by heartbroken supporters from both clubs. Tributes have been flooding in from across the sporting world following the news of his death, with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin among those to speak up.
“He could skate, he could really skate,” Guerin told The Athletic. “He was a beautiful skater. Just a good, nice kid. Like, so nice. He wasn’t the most talkative kid, but you knew he loved the sport. His teammates all loved him and we wanted guys like Adam in our system.”
Meanwhile, the Oxford City Stars have announced that neck guards will be made compulsory for all players in the wake of Johnson’s tragic death. A club statement read: “These guards will be a non-negotiable component of their attire during all practices and games, providing an extra layer of protection.
“In a poignant tribute to Adam Johnson’s memory, this commitment signifies not only a significant moment for the Oxford City Stars but also a cornerstone in advocating for enhanced safety standards across the sport. We encourage other clubs to also offer these neck guards to their players. At our level of play, we strongly believe that these guards should be worn by all players.”
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