Ice hockey player Adam Johnson will “never be forgotten”, said his former coach as the one-year anniversary of his death from a blade injury to the neck was marked with tributes.
The Nottingham Panthers forward died on 28 October 2023 following a collision with Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave.
Clubs around the country held applauses lasting 47 seconds at the weekend in honour of Johnson, who wore the number 47.
Kevin Moore, who was assistant coach at the Panthers last season, told BBC Sport that tragedy was “unbelievable in the worst way possible”.
“It’s something I still think about weekly,” said Moore.
“And every game I do my best to just say a little prayer for him and his family and honour him. He’ll never be forgotten in this community and certainly I’ll never forget him either.”
Asked what his abiding memory of Johnson would be, Moore – now coach of Coventry Blaze – added: “He had such a way about him that was selfless.
“He was the best player on our team, in my opinion he was the best player in the league. And to have somebody of that stature with no ego, it’s everything you want when you’re coaching, you want your players to be like that. I think his character as a man is what I’ll remember about him the most.”
Police investigation continues into Johnson’s death
Last November, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the incident and has been re-bailed until next month.
But one of Johnson’s former team-mates, Victor Bjorkung, is frustrated by the time the investigation has taken.
“The whole police investigation, I think it’s been taking way too long, for Adam’s family and everyone involved in the whole thing,” he said.
“But I understand why as well, nothing like this has ever happened before. So it’s not an easy black or white, this is right and this is wrong.”
In response, South Yorkshire Police said: “In the year since the incident, we have been working meticulously to fully investigate the unprecedented circumstances in which Adam sadly lost his life.
“This is a complex investigation which has involved conversations with highly specialised experts in their field.
“Our work is continuing, and we are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Since Johnson’s death, safety changes have been made in the sport.
The new International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rulebook for global hockey, as of the 2024/25 season, stipulates neck guards are mandatory in all IIHF-affiliated leagues.
Since 1 January, 2024, neck guards have been mandatory in the Elite League.
However, they are not mandatory in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Bjorkung added: “We are moving forward slowly, but I think it has to come to the top league, the NHL, as well – where they put their neck guards on and show the younger kids that it is cool to wear one, it is cool to be safe, rather than not wear one and try to look a certain way. It is cooler to be safe in my opinion.”
