Johnson tributes 'emotional' for Panthers players

The death of Adam Johnson remains too painful for many at the Nottingham Panthers to recall, but his team-mates said the memory of the player will never be forgotten.

Monday will be the anniversary of Johnson suffering a fatal neck injury from a skate during a collision in the game against Sheffield Steelers on 28 October 2023.

Tributes will be paid to the American when Nottingham host Manchester Storm on Sunday, with every match across Britain's Elite Ice Hockey League observing 47 seconds of applause to honour the player this weekend.

The number 47 worn by Johnson is this season being retired by the Panthers.

Jordan Kelsall is one of nine Panthers players who remain part of the club a year on from Johnson's death, and said the club will "honour him the best way we can".

"It will be an emotional time," Kelsall told BBC East Midlands Today.

When talking of Johnson's death, Kelsall admitted "it's difficult" even a year on.

Last month, a man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following Johnson's death had his bail extended by police.

"I don't really want to remember too much if I'm honest," Kelsall said.

"Time has flown but at the same time it feels like a million years ago."

But the memory of Johnson himself is one that the forward will carry with him forever.

"He was a great friend for the time he was playing for the organisation, and I'm never going to forget it, that's for sure," Kelsall continued.

Not everyone on the Panthers roster, or working behind the bench this weekend, was with the club when tragedy struck a year ago.

Head coach Danny Stewart is only months into the job, but said even when working at Coventry Blaze last season the death had a profound impact.

"It was something that stung the league," he said.

But now that he is at the helm of a club that grieved the loss of one of their own, he said it has been important to rally around those who were closest to Johnson.

"We have to make sure that myself, the rest of the coaching staff, and the newish players are there for our guys - they are our team-mates, or brothers now, and we have to make sure we show a lot of support and are there to pick them up when they need it," Stewart added.

And while playing on the eve on the anniversary of the tragic event will be challenging, Stewart said it will also be a powerful motivator.

"I've heard nothing but phenomenal things about Adam, he has certainly left a great legacy and he would want those guys to go kick some ass for sure," Stewart said.