An inquest into the tragic death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been initiated and postponed until January. Johnson, a player for the Nottingham Panthers, lost his life after sustaining a neck injury from a skate during a match against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28. The incident was categorized as a “freak accident” by his club.
South Yorkshire Police stated earlier this week that their investigation is still ongoing and will likely take a considerable amount of time.
The inquest into the demise of the 29-year-old American athlete commenced on November 3 at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre but was quickly adjourned until January 26, 2024. According to the hearing, Johnson was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital on the day of the incident and sadly passed away as a result of his injury.
The identification of his body was confirmed by his fiancee, Ryan Wolfe.
The Senior Coroner, Tanyka Rawden, specified that the scheduled January 26 date would be solely for a review and not the complete inquest. She concluded by expressing her heartfelt condolences to Johnson’s family, friends, and acquaintances during this difficult period.
It is essential to emphasize that January 26th will be a review date for the inquest, as my investigation is not yet completed,” said Senior Coroner Tanyka Rawden.
She added, “In this difficult time, I take this opportunity to extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him.”
The entire hockey community has offered tributes to Johnson, and the Panthers have invited fans to a memorial event at their home stadium on Saturday.
In response to this tragic incident, the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) announced earlier this week that they will implement mandatory neck guards/protectors for all players at every level of English Ice Hockey. Additionally, Johnson’s former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, are spearheading a campaign for greater neck protection.
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(Photo: Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
