Adam Johnson: Sheffield Steelers pay tribute to Nottingham Panthers forward after death
- Published
Steelers players raised their sticks to honour Adam Johnson
Sheffield Steelers paid tribute to Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson before their first home game since his death last month.
More than 8,000 fans took part in an applause before the Steelers' match against Coventry Blaze on Sunday.
Johnson, 29, died after a serious cut to his neck from a skate during a Challenge Cup tie against the Steelers.
The Panthers will play for the first time since his death on Saturday, in a memorial game for the American.
They will face Manchester Storm in the exhibition game at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, with memorial jerseys worn by the Panthers players to be sold to raise money for a fund established in Johnson's memory.
The Steelers won Sunday's Elite League game against the Blaze 2-1, after overtime.
Before the game representatives from the Royal Air Force laid a wreath at centre ice, which was then followed by the laying of a wreath for Adam Johnson by both Steelers head coach Aaron Fox and Coventry head coach Danny Stewart.
An impeccably observed two minutes silence was then held, before one minute of rapturous applause and stick taps on the ice for Adam Johnson.
Steelers head coach Aaron Fox (right) and Coventry head coach Danny Stewart lay a wreath for Adam Johnson
'A difficult, but beautiful moment'
Peter Spencer, BBC Radio Sheffield's Ice Hockey reporter
It was a difficult, but beautiful moment as both coaches stepped forward to lay a wreath for Adam Johnson. The club did a really good job of combining the Remembrance Day ceremony with the tributes to Adam.
There were tears looking around the crowd and, as tough as it was for the supporters to walk back through the door, they were determined to be there to support the Steelers players.
There was also a poignant moment in the 47th minute of the game, when the fans rose to their feet and gave the Panthers #47 a standing ovation, then, after the Steelers sealed the 2-1 overtime win, the players once again came together at centre ice, raising their sticks to the roof to honour Adam.
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