An inquest into the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been opened and adjourned until January.
The Nottingham Panthers player died after being cut in the neck by a skate during a game against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28 in what his club described as a “freak accident”.
South Yorkshire Police have said that their investigation “remains ongoing” and will likely “take some time”.
An inquest into the 29-year-old American’s death was opened and adjourned until January 26, 2024 after a brief hearing at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre on Friday November 3.
The inquest heard that Johnson was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital on October 28, where he died later that day as a result of his injury.
He was formally identified by his fiancee, Ryan Wolfe.
Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden said: “I am not in a position to fix the inquest today as my investigation is not yet complete.”
The coroner stressed that the date of January 26 would be for a review and not for the full inquest.
She concluded by saying she wanted to “take this opportunity to offer, to his family, his friends and all those who knew him, my sincere condolences at this difficult time.”
Tributes from across the sport have been paid to Johnson, with Panthers fans invited by the Panthers to attend a memorial event at their home stadium on Saturday.
Earlier this week, the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) announced it is making approved neck guards/protectors a mandatory piece of equipment for “players at all levels across English Ice Hockey” in the wake of his death.
Johnson’s former NHL employers, Pittsburgh Penguins, are also leading a push for neck protection.
(Photo: Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
