Ice hockey player Adam Johnson will “never be forgotten”, his former coach said as the one-year anniversary of his death from a knife injury to the neck was marked with tributes.
The Nottingham Panthers forward died on October 28, 2023 after a collision with Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave.
Clubs across the country held a 47-second round of applause this weekend in honor of Johnson, who wore the number 47.
Kevin Moore, who was assistant coach at the Panthers last season, told BBC Sport that the tragedy was “unbelievable in the worst possible way”.
“It’s something I still think about every week,” Moore said.
“And every game I do my best to say a little prayer for him and his family and honor him. He will never be forgotten in this community and I certainly will never forget him either.”
When asked what his lasting 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 someone of that stature, with no ego, is all you want when you’re coaching. You want your players to be like that .” I think his character as a man is what I will remember most about him.”
The police investigation into Johnson’s death continues
Last November, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the incident and has been released on bail again until next month.
But one of Johnson’s former teammates, Victor Bjorkung, is frustrated by the time the investigation has taken.
“I think the whole police investigation took far too long, for Adam’s family and everyone involved in the whole case,” he said.
“But I also understand why: something like this has never happened before. So it is not 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 worked diligently to fully investigate the unprecedented circumstances in which Adam sadly lost his life.
‘This is a complex study that involved discussions with highly specialized experts in their field.
“Our work continues and we are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Since Johnson’s death, safety changes have been made to the sport.
The International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) new rulebook for global hockey, effective from the 2024/25 season, stipulates that neck guards are mandatory in all IIHF-affiliated competitions.
Since January 1, 2024, neck protectors have been mandatory in the Elite League.
However, they are not mandatory in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Bjorkung added: “We’re moving slowly, but I think it should also come to the top league, the NHL – where they put on their neck gaiters and show the younger kids that it’s cool to wear one. cool to be safe, rather than not wearing one and looking a certain way. In my opinion, it’s cooler to be safe.”
