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).
