16 November 2023 , 20:10
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Adam Johnson's girlfriend, Ryan Wolfe, has been made aware of plans that the Nottingham Panthers player was going to propose before he was involved in a fatal incident.
The ice hockey player suffered a cut to the neck during an Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) game on October 28 against the Sheffield Steelers, but had previously bought an engagement ring. Wolfe found the ring in their apartment after news of Johnson's planned proposal was confirmed by his aunt Kari, who spoke to KSTP-TV, a local Minnesota news station.
"We were all really excited because we were really looking forward to their future and he didn't get a chance to ask her, and then this happened," she said, something which has since been corroborated by a close family friend, Scott Pion.
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"His grandmother told me that he had shown her [Johnson’s grandmother] the ring before he left and he was going to propose at some point," said Pionk said via USA Today. Pionk went on to add that Wolfe would have had an idea of the plans to propose: "I’m sure she had an inkling."
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The planned proposal was referenced by Wolfe at Johnson's memorial in his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota. Reflecting on his death, she referred to herself as "Adam's fiancée" and shared a letter that would be "Similar to something I would have written him for our wedding day."
"Hi Babe," she said. "I want you to know how much I love you and adore you. You've been so amazingly supportive and kind to me since the day we met, and I couldn't have been more grateful for it."
Adam Johnson passed away following an incident during a game with the Nottingham Panthers (2019 NHLI GETTY)She went on to reveal that plans the pair had made together, adding: "The last year or so, you came up with so many different plans for us. From starting a farm, or coffee shop, or me becoming some big hot shot so you could stay home and be a stay-at-home Dad with a whole vanful of kids you wanted."
Johnson's death was announced the day after the incident inside the Sheffield Arena. Following a collision, players formed a circle around Johnson while he laid on the floor with an announcement that the 8,000 spectators were asked to leave.
A post-mortem following the incident revealed that he had died as a result of a fatal neck injury.
Following his death, Wolfe took to Instagram to express her sadness at the news ahead of the memorial. Sharing a photo of Johnson alongside the caption: "My sweet, sweet angel. I'll miss you forever and love you always."
Johnson's aunty Kari also paid tribute, adding: "I lost half of my heart today. Love you always Munch.”
"We are having a very hard time," she said via Nottingham Post. "It's very unreal. We just don't even want to believe it happened. We would like to thank the fans. We appreciate the support they have given us. So many of them have reached out and expressed how they felt. It just seems like everyone was so nice in Nottingham."
Fans and players have also made their own tributes with flowers, heartfelt messages and shirts being laid outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. Nottingham Police have since confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the incident.