28 October 2023 , 19:55
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Sheffield Steelers' Challenge Cup match against the Nottingham Panthers was abandoned during the second period due to a medical emergency involving a player from the visiting side.
A mid-ice collision saw Adam Johnson go down to the ice as medical officials were immediately called to attend. After a long stoppage, the match was abandoned and around 8,000 spectators were asked to leave the Sheffield Arena.
Eye witnesses say players from both sides formed a ring around their stricken colleague, while screens were also erected. It's believed the horrific injury was caused by a skate blade in a freak accident.
The Panthers posted on their official Twitter account: "The game is stopped for a bad injury. Players are returning to the locker rooms." They subsequently wrote: "Fans have been asked to leave the building due to a major medical emergency."
Journalist Peter Spencer posted from the match: "Nottingham Panthers player badly hurt after a collision in mid-ice. Paramedics are now on the ice, players are forming a ring around him and now screens are up around him. Awful scenes here at Sheffield Arena."
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The player was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Sheffield were leading the fixture 2-1 thanks to goals from Brandon Whistle and Patrick Watling at the time of the stoppage. Mathieu Lemay tallied for the Panthers.
The clubs are arguably the two biggest in the British game and enjoy what is widely considered to be the fiercest rivalry in the domestic ranks. The Challenge Cup runs alongside the Elite League, which features teams from all four countries of the UK.