‘Traumatised’ team-mate of Adam Johnson quits Nottingham Panthers after sharing that he ‘tried to suppress everything’ after witnessing the player’s fatal on-ice collision
- Johnson, 29, passed away following a fatal neck injury at the end of October
- Saturday saw the side host a memorial friendly game in tribute to the player
- A number of the Panthers wore neckguards amid calls for kit to be mandatory
A Nottingham Panthers player who was on the ice when Adam Johnson’s throat was fatally slashed in a collision has left the team weeks after describing the incident as ‘the most traumatising thing’ he has ever experienced.
Victor Bjorkung was part of the side fielded by the Panthers during their match against Sheffield Steelers in October, which saw Johnson injured in the fracas after a skate slashed his neck.
The tragic accident – which was witnessed by around 8,000 fans at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena – sent shockwaves through the ice hockey community both in England and around the world.
But the loss of Johnson has been especially felt by his team-mates, who Bjorkung revealed in an interview with Swedish outlet Expressen have been working with psychologists and a trauma team since his death.
‘I have tried to suppress a lot,’ Bjorkung said. ‘You are so shocked at the moment, everything goes so damn fast.
Victor Bjorkung (right) has quit the Nottingham Panthers in the wake of Adam Johnson’s death
The Panthers paid tribute to Johnson in a memorial game on Saturday against the Storm
Fans left hundreds of tributes to the 29-year-old outside of Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena
‘One moment you have your friend there, the next second he’s gone.
‘Being on the ice when a friend I hold close dies like that. It’s terrible. It went so damn fast,’ he continued. ‘I was a few meters away from him and I have a lot of memory gaps, but I have been told that I played the puck up to him on the left wing and then it takes a few seconds before… well, everyone knows what happens after that.’
Panthers announced the departure of their player on Monday stating that the player had himself informed the club that he would not be returning.
‘We are sad to be losing a member of this close-knit team, but fully respect and understand his decision not to return,’ their statement read, before including a farewell missive from the 31-year-old.
‘I have loved every second of playing for the club and my team-mates. I’m more than proud of them. The fans have been amazing from day one – thank you for everything,’ said Bjorkung.
‘I don’t know where hockey will take me moving forward but I will take all the good memories with me and play in Adam’s honour.’
Bjorkung’s departure comes in the wake of Saturday’s memorial game for Johnson against Manchester Storm.
Hundreds of messages and floral tributes were left outside the Motorpoint Arena, and before the game started, Panthers announced that they would be retiring Johnson’s No 47 jersey.
The former NHL player was fatally injured in an accident which saw him take a skate to his neck
The club have retired his No 47 jersey and painted a lasting message to Johnson on the ice
Multiple players wore neckguards during the friendly tie after the coroner at the head of the inquest called for the piece of kit to be made mandatory
The arena previously paid host to a memorial which let supporters sign a book of condolence
Storm played the match in commemorative Johnson jerseys for the occasion, which were later sold to fundraise for a foundation established by the player’s family.
The majority of Panthers players appeared to wear neckguards on the night, with at least 14 sporting the safety gear that the coroner involved in an inquest into Johnson’s death called to be mandatory across the sport.
The English Ice Hockey Association will make neck guards obligatory from 2024 onwards, but the division the Panthers feature in – the Elite Ice Hockey League – has announced that it has no plans at this point to follow suit.
An inquest into Johnson’s death was opened two weeks ago, but has been rejoinded until the new year.
Last week, a man was arrested on charges of manslaughter by South Yorkshire Police, but was later released on bail.
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