Adam Johnson: Sheffield Steelers boss Aaron Fox says return 'about more than hockey'
- Published
Sheffield Steelers players raised their sticks to honour Adam Johnson
Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox paid tribute to his players after they returned to the ice for their first home game since the death of Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson.
The forward, 29, died following a serious cut to his neck in the match between the teams at Utilita Arena Sheffield on 28 October.
"Tonight was about more than just hockey," Fox told BBC Radio Sheffield.
The Steelers coach added: "I'm just really proud of our players and staff."
The Steelers played away to Manchester Storm on Saturday in the Challenge Cup, before the Elite League game with Coventry Blaze 24 hours later, which they won 2-1 after overtime.
Nottingham Panthers will take to the ice for the first time since Johnson's passing with a memorial game on Saturday against Manchester at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, with memorial jerseys worn by the Panthers players to be sold to raise money for a fund established in Johnson's memory.
The Sheffield Steelers' shirts included the number 47 on the collar - the number Adam Johnson wore
'Ton of mental courage'
Steelers coach Fox reflected on a difficult period for his own players, who witnessed at close quarters what happened to Johnson.
"It was a pretty emotional weekend for us mentally and physically," he added.
"They've shown a ton of mental courage through this process. Just for us, we knew that we were in this together with those people that were here. It was good for everyone to get in here and get back to it a little bit.
"This is going to be something that is difficult and is not going to go away from our group. And this was a good first step, getting back in.
"But this will carry an effect on all of our lives for a very long time."
More than 8,000 fans inside the area took part in a minute's applause for Johnson before the Steelers' match against Coventry, while players raised their sticks and tapped the ice in honour of the late American.
There was also applause during the match for Matt Petgrave, the player whose skate caught Johnson.
"The support for Matt inside the country and within the hockey community has been overwhelming," said Fox.
"Matt has been in every day, getting some work for the stuff he is going through as well, but I'm sure that reaction made him feel good."
Following Johnson's death, there has been a call for neck guards to become compulsory equipment in ice hockey.
For this game all the Sheffield Steelers players wore them, which Fox believes is a good step.
"I was just happy that our group wanted them right away," he said. "The guys were all on board for that, to wear them as a team."