Penguins remember former teammate Adam Johnson in pregame ceremony

Prior to Monday’s contest at PPG Paints Arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins were joined on the ice by the Anaheim Ducks and officials during a memorial recognizing former Penguins forward Adam Johnson.

After a video highlighting Johnson’s Penguins career was played on the center ice video board, public address announcer Ryan Mill asked fans to give him one more ovation, rather than a moment of silence, as players tapped their sticks on the ice.

Johnson, 29, died as a result of a catastrophic injury he suffered while playing for the Nottingham Panthers in the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League. During the second period of a road contest against the Sheffield Steelers, a collision resulted in a Steelers player’s skates striking Johnson in the neck, cutting him.

Medical services were administered to Johnson on the ice and he was transported to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries.

By Sunday morning, the Panthers announced Johnson’s death.

A native of Hibbing, Minn., Johnson spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins, primarily at the American Hockey League level with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In two campaigns, Johnson appeared in 13 NHL games with the Penguins and scored four points (one goal, three assists).