‘Heartbreaking’: Pittsburgh Penguins Issue Statement Remembering Former NHL Player Who Died After Skate Cut His Neck

The 🏒Pittsburgh Penguins issued a statement remembering Adam Johnson, a former NHL forward player with the team who died after a skate cut his neck.

Johnson, a player with the Nottingham Panthers, died after a tragic accident during the second period of a game against the Sheffield Steelers Saturday night. The Penguins took time to honor Johnson prior to Monday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, according to a statement from the Penguins.

While competing in a Challenge Cup game between the Panthers and the Steelers, the blade of Matt Petgrave, an opponent, cut Johnson’s throat.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones,” Sidney Crosby, captain of the Penguins, said in the statement. “He’s just a great guy, a great teammate, had an awesome attitude while he was here, just genuinely happy to be playing in the NHL. So, it’s heartbreaking that that’s happened.”

The Penguins shared moments of Johnson’s first performance with the team, including the first moment that he scored a goal with fans rising to their feet and clapping as the teams circled around the ice rink, according to the statement.