The hockey world was shaken last week when the news out of England last Saturday reported that Minnesotan Adam Johnson, who was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite Ice Hockey League, had passed away when an opponent’s skate caught him in the neck.
With all the players from Minnesota on the Winnipeg Jets it isn’t a surprise that many on the NHL team in Manitoba had deep connections to the 29 year old from Hibbing, Minnesota.
Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press is on the road covering the current road trip and he had a one-on-one with Neal Pionk who indicated Johnson was “one of my best friends. He was in my wedding two years ago”.
You can read the full article here.
He also tweeted:
Following tomorrow’s game here in Tempe, #NHLJets chartering Pionk, Iafallo, Toninato, Samberg and Schmidt to Minnesota so they can attend Adam Johnson’s funeral (Sunday) and celebration of life (Monday, Pionk speaking). Then will fly them to St. Louis Monday eve to rejoin team.
A nice move by the organization to give these players a chance to get home, be with their loved ones and pay their respects to Adam Johnson’s life.
Here is a Go Fund Me started by his hockey club.
