American hockey player Adam Johnson, known for his 13 NHL appearances with the Pittsburgh Penguins, died following a “freak accident” during a game in England on Saturday. He was 29.

He was representing Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game.

“The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night,” the team said Sunday morning.

Here are 5 facts about the player

– Johnson’s career took him on a journey through different leagues. He played 13 games in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons and then headed to Sweden to join the Malmo Redhawks for the 2020-21 season.

– Being part of Minnesota-Duluth’s college hockey team, Johnson steered them to two NCAA tournaments. In 2017, his overtime victory against Boston University secured a spot for Minnesota-Duluth in the Frozen Four.

– Adam Johnson wasn’t limited to one league. He also made stops in the American Hockey League and even ventured to Germany to play for the Augsburg Panthers in 2022-23. His next destination was Nottingham for the 2023-24 season.

– Adam Johnson was born in 1994 in Hibbing, a city in Minnesota, US.

– In the aftermath of Adam Johnson’s tragic passing, The UK Elite League made the announcement that three games scheduled for Sunday in Belfast, Fife, and Guildford had been postponed.

London:

An American ice hockey player has died in a “freak accident” during a match for his English club Nottingham Panthers.

Adam Johnson, 29, reportedly suffered a slashed neck during the second period of the Challenge Cup game at Sheffield Steelers’ Utilita Arena on Saturday.

“The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night,” the club announced on Sunday.

The Panthers thanked “everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances”.

“Everyone at the club including players, staff, management and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam’s passing,” the statement added.

“Our thoughts are also with the fans and staff of both clubs, especially those who attended or were following the game, who will be devastated following today’s news.

“Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him. The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him.”

Minnesota-born Johnson played for Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League before spending the 2020-21 season in Sweden with the Malmo Redhawks.

Johnson went on to play in Canada for the Ontario Reign and in Germany for the Augsburger Panther before agreeing to join Nottingham for the 2023-24 campaign.

Sunday’s three Elite League games in Belfast, Fife and Guildford have been postponed following the tragedy.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)