Former Penguins forward Adam Johnson dies after on-ice accident
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In August 2018, Zach Aston-Reese, Adam Johnson and Thomas Di Pauli were all young forward prospects in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ system with hopes of becoming full-time NHLers.
With the same pursuit in mind, they opted to become roommates to train together and chase a common dream.
The only deviation from that approach came from Johnson. He did his dreaming in a different spot.
The floor.
“He didn’t want to buy a bed, so he just slept on an air mattress for that month,” Aston-Reese said. “Just kind of a quirky guy, but everybody loved him.”
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 29, 2023
That affection appeared to be universal for anyone who crossed paths with Johnson in the world of professional hockey.
On Sunday, that world was rocked by the 29-year-old’s shocking death while playing a game for the Nottingham Panthers of the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League.
During the second period of a road contest against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday, Johnson collided with an opponent whose skates struck Johnson’s neck, cutting him.
Play was halted as Johnson was in immediate distress.
Fans at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena were instructed to leave the venue as Johnson received medical attention on the ice. According to the BBC, Johnson was taken to Northern General Hospital for further treatment.
On Sunday morning, the Panthers announced Johnson’s death via social media.
A native of Hibbing, Minn., Johnson was 29.
Half a world away, Johnson’s former teammates with the Penguins organization woke to news of the catastrophe.
“Truly one of the kindest people that I’ve ever met in pro hockey,” former Penguins forward Sam Lafferty said via phone from Vancouver. “Just a really sweet guy. I know all his teammates are absolutely heartbroken.”
Undrafted out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Johnson signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins and wound up spending three seasons with the organization, primarily at the American Hockey League level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
That’s where Johnson forged enduring bonds with teammates such as Aston-Reese and Lafferty.
“Every day after practice … we’d go to Starbucks for some reason,” said Lafferty, now a member of the Vancouver Canucks. “Almost the whole team would go and hang out at Starbucks. ‘Johnny’ was always against it. ‘Why are we at Starbucks? What’s the point of this? We’re already at the rink together all day.’ We finally got him to make an appearance at Starbucks. It was quite a treat. The boys were taking pictures. It ended up being a pretty big deal that ‘Johnny’ made an appearance at one of those team meetings at Starbucks.
“(Johnson was) a little reserved, and maybe he’d complain a bit on the surface. But deep down, he loved to be part of it and just to have fun with the guys.”
Skating is what gave Johnson a chance as a professional.
“We played together quite a bit (on a line), and he was really fun to play with,” Lafferty said. “He was an amazing player and one of the best skaters that I’ve ever seen. If I got the puck, I could just send it wide and he would always get a step on the defenseman, he’d be flying down the wing.”
Johnson’s entire NHL career came in the form of 13 games with the Penguins spread out over the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. His lone NHL goal came in his home state Oct. 12, 2019, in a 7-4 win against the Minnesota Wild.
Aston-Reese and Lafferty were his linemates and each assisted on the goal.
Taking a pass in the neutral zone from Johnson, Aston-Reese offloaded the puck to Lafferty racing up the right wing. Above the right circle, Lafferty chucked a heavy wrister to the far side that was rejected by goaltender Devan Dubnyk’s blocker.
The rebound bounced to the left of the cage, where Johnson swiped in a one-timer, prompting a bevy of family and friends to roar in delight.
“Me and (Lafferty) assisted on his first NHL goal,” said Aston-Reese, now a member of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. “I remember just sprinting to him. So happy for him. Playing in his home state, it’s a pretty special thing to do that.”
It was particularly profound for Lafferty as the assist was his first career point.
“I can remember the whole play,” said Lafferty, who also scored his first career goal in that contest. “I remember shooting the puck, and he was in the perfect spot and then he absolutely teed up that slap shot, top shelf. I had never seen (such) a look of pure joy and elation. We went to celebrate. Obviously, his home state, his first NHL goal, what a special night. Something I’ll remember vividly forever.”
In addition to Pittsburgh, Johnson spent time in various parts of the globe such as Sweden, Ontario (California), Allentown, Germany and the United Kingdom chasing his dream.
Despite having a divergent path in that pursuit, the affable Johnson remained a presence with his former Penguins teammates.
“Anytime you kind of have that relationship with guys like that, it doesn’t matter if it’s a month or five years,” Aston-Reese said. “When you talk to them, you just kind of pick up where you left off. Nothing really changes.
“When you go to battle with these guys, you just have a special bond that no amount of time will take from.”