Family's desperate last wish for hockey star killed in horrendous tragedy

05 November 2023 , 09:16

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Kari Johnson has paid tribute to her nephew Adam (Image: Facebook)

Adam Johnson's aunt has urged the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) to make neck guards mandatory after her nephew tragically died in a freak incident on the ice.

Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game against Sheffield Steelers when he was involved in an on-ice collision that saw him fatally injured by an ice skate. The 29-year-old had his throat slit by the blade of a skate and died of his injuries after being rushed to hospital.

Johnson's aunt Kari was watching the match on a livestream with the player's father and grandfather in his home state of Minnesota and said they "knew right away he was in trouble". Speaking to Sky News, Kari said: "Then it was just a waiting game waiting to hear from somebody. It was terrible, it was horrific, we didn't know what to do."

When the family were informed Johnson had passed away, she added: "We all just broke down - it was a mess, it was a nightmare, it was like it wasn't real. We were in shock, we couldn't believe this was happening."

Fans packed into a memorial in Nottingham on Saturday night (PA)

A vigil was held for Johnson on Saturday outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, with fans signing books of condolence and laying floral tributes. "It means a lot to us to see how much everybody thought of our boy," Kari said.

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"He liked it there [Nottingham], he thought the fans were great, he was meeting some of them and really enjoying it. It means a lot to our family. It means the world."

The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) have announced they will make neck guards mandatory for "all on-ice activities" following the tragedy, but the EIHL have not followed suit instead saying the league "strongly encourages" players to wear them.

There were emotional scenes as fans remembered the late Nottingham Panthers star (PA)

Fans pay tribute to Johnson at a memorial (PA Wire/PA Images)

"All clubs continue to follow the existing guidance from the International Ice Hockey Federation, that the use of a BNQ or other ISO Standard neck laceration protector is recommended," a spokesperson said. "The Elite Ice Hockey League strongly encourages players and officials to wear one and clubs and the league will continue to support players and officials to do so."

However, Kari believes they should be compulsory. "When kids start playing in youth hockey, if you get them used to wearing it it's just going to be like any other piece of equipment," she said.

Johnson's funeral will be held in Hibbing, Minnesota on Sunday and the Panthers have set up a GoFundMe page to "support local charitable activities in the Hibbing area as selected by the Johnson Family" which has currently raised over £50,000.

Matthew Cooper