Adam Johnson’s fiancee pays tribute to ice hockey player who died during game in Sheffield as police open investigation
Adam Johnson’s fiancee paid tribute to her “sweet angel” after he died in a “freak accident” – as police continue to investigate the incident.
The 29-year-old American was on the ice for Nottingham Panthers when a skate slashed his neck in the Challenge Cup game against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night.
The 8,000-strong crowd in the Utilita Arena in South Yorkshire were asked to leave, and Johnson was later declared dead by paramedics.
Posting a picture of the player on Instagram, his fiancee Ryan Wolfe also wrote: “My sweet, sweet angel. I’ll miss you forever and love you always”.
Adam Johnson in 2018. Pic: AP
It is widely reported the pair became engaged over the summer.
The Sun reported Ms Wolfe ran onto the ice in Sheffield after the incident, as players formed a protective ring around Johnson, shielding him from the crowd.
South Yorkshire Police are also now investigating the incident, with a spokesperson saying: “Officers attended the scene alongside other emergency services and one man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased at hospital. Our officers remain at the scene carrying out inquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.
“We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our inquiries.”
Fans leave tributes
Fans and players left tributes at Nottingham Panthers’ Motorpoint Arena on Sunday, after news emerged of Johnson’s death.
Flowers were laid at the venue, with those there expressing condolences over the incident.
One message left said: “Our hearts are breaking, you will be forever missed and forever in our hearts.”
There were also tributes left from Glasgow fans, whose team was due to play Nottingham on Tuesday. The match has been postponed.
Speaking to the hundreds of people who had turned up in Nottingham, assistant coach of the Panthers, Kevin Moore, said: “We really appreciate all of the support and tears and love.
“Our hearts break with all of yours. We are grieving this together as a team, as a community, as a city, and we’re going to get through this together with a lot of love, a lot of thought and a lot of laughter.”
‘It’s like a bad dream’
A witness at the arena called Hazel told The Sun newspaper she could not get what happened “out of my head”.
She said: “It is like a bad dream I can’t wake up from.
“Suddenly during the match, the blade struck the player’s throat and there was blood everywhere. He tried to get to the side of the arena but came crashing down.
“His teammates looked horrified and banded together around him to shield him from the crowd. They were amazing.
“We were all praying and hoping he would make it, but sadly he didn’t. Our hearts go out to his family and friends and teammates
“I cannot imagine how they are feeling. We are feeling absolutely numb ourselves. It was a freak accident, totally tragic, and no one was to blame.”
Before joining Nottingham Panthers, the Minnesota-born Johnson played in Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Sweden for the Malmo Redhawks.
He also played in California for Ontario Reign, who have since paid tribute to their former player, and in Germany for Augsburger Panther.
‘Forever in our hearts’
After Johnson’s tragic incident, Ontario Reign made a moving tribute before the club’s American Hockey League game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday.
Johnson’s name was announced to the crowd as his number 49 jersey was placed on a chair in the middle of the ice by former Nottingham player Jacob Doty.
Every Ontario player touched the jersey in a moving gesture, with a video of the gesture posted on their social media accounts with the caption “forever in our hearts”.
Liverpool have won the Premier League title after a 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s men did it in impressive style, turning over Spurs in a convincing win.
It was a rocky start for the Reds after Dominic Solanke put the north London side ahead.
However, fortunes quickly changed in the first half as Liverpool scored three times without a response.
Captain Virgil van Dijk (centre) celebrates. Pic: Reuters
Salah on his knees in celebration after the final whistle. Pic: AP
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott (below) and Jarell Quansah celebrate after full-time. Pic: PA
Slot cheers after the full-time whistle. Pic: AP
In the second half, it took until the 63rd minute for Mohamed Salah to make it 4-1 before a fifth followed.
The Reds have won the title in manager Arne Slot’s first season in charge, and move level with fierce rivals Manchester United on 20 league championships.
But it makes them arguably the most successful English club ever as they have won more European Cup or Champions League titles.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “It’s special and it’s something that we don’t take for granted. It’s amazing.
“A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we (are) truly deserved champions of England. (Liverpool is) the most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this. Let’s enjoy the next couple of weeks and let it sink in.”
Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas poses with a Premier League trophy cut out. Pic: Reuters
Manager Arne Slot and his team after the final whistle. Pic: AP
Slot took over last summer from Jurgen Klopp, who guided them to their previous and maiden Premier League title triumph in 2020, when the COVID-19 lockdown saw matches played behind closed doors.
He is the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League and the fifth man to do so in a debut campaign after Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, and Antonio Conte.
Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “They [the players] did an outstanding job today. The main job was to win. Everyone said we had got it already. But we had to make sure and we got over the line.”
Several players, including Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah, played leading roles in both the 2025 and 2020 campaigns.
Van Dijk and Salah recently signed new contracts extending their careers at the club.
Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with fans after scouring the fourth Liverpool goal. Pic: AP
Fans at Anfield during the game. Pic: AP
Fans in the stands at Anfield before full-time. Pic: Reuters
Liverpool will have to wait until the final game of the season – at home to Crystal Palace on 25 May – to be presented with the Premier League trophy.
It will be the first time the club’s fans will have seen their side lift the top-flight title in person since 1990.
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Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.
The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.
A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.
The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.
Pic: LNP
They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.
A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.
Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.
There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.
More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.
Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.
Read more:
Sky’s Beth Rigby running marathon in honour of ‘dearest friend’
Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform
Pic: LNP
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.
“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”
The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.
The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.
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