Ice Hockey Player Killed in Freak Accident

Mike

Mike

Well-known Member
Location
London
Adam Johnson, an ice hockey player, in Nottingham, England,
had his neck cut by an opponents skate, this caused his death.

The police are now looking into the incident, several professional
players, having watched the video of the event, all state that it was
a foul, that went wrong!

Police reveal probe into horrific death of ice hockey
star Adam Johnson is 'ongoing' and they are speaking
to experts to understand how his throat was slit by
opponent's skate​

Police probing shock ice hockey death of Adam Johnson give new update

Mike.
 

Context is very important in discussing this tragic death. First point. Hockey skates are VERY sharp, and usually they are machine sharpened every 2 games. Second, I have actually watched the game video.

The player who died was a forward, carrying the puck into the defensive zone of the opposing team's end of the ice. Two of the defending team's players converged on the forward, in an effort to take the puck away from him. This resulted in all 3 players running into each other. One of the defending players lost his balance and fell backwards. As he fell backwards his legs went up into the air, and one of his skates struck the forward in the neck, causing a massive laceration. The injured player was immediately attended to by medical staff from both teams.

I was an Ambulance Attendant with Metro Toronto Ambulance for a period of ten years, 1977 to 1987. We were taught that in the case of an arterial bleed, direct pressure to the wound was required. Now for the agonizing choice that was faced by the arriving UK Paramedics. If you apply direct pressure to the neck to stop the bleeding, you are also shutting down the person's airway. If this happened in a hospital in an operating room the solution is to do a cut down into the trachea and insert a breathing tube. In the middle of the rink, in front of thousands of fans, that was not done.

Lets be clear, I am NOT blaming the medical efforts that took place. An arterial bleeder has all of the power of the person's heart contractions pushing the fluid out of the body, like a run away fire hose.

I was a hockey player in my youth, and a life long fan of the game. This was a tragic accident. No one goes out on the ice thinking "To night I am going to try to kill some body ".

JImB.
 
As a long time New York Islanders fan, I find this shocking. Never have I ever heard of something like this happening. Nor has it ever occurred to me how dangerous and sharp the skates can be. Never even entered my mind. From now on when I watch the Isles play, this will be in the back of mind. đŸ˜„
 

I read this the other day. When I was in college, I played hockey for the college team, but after college, I joined a men’s adult league and played for a team called “The Ice Rinkers.” I had fallen and tried to get up quickly, but as I did I spread my hand out on the ice and it got run over by one of my own players accidentally. My ring finger on my right hand was cut really bad and barely left on. I thought they would take it off at the hospital, but they rushed me into surgery and sewed it back on, but the surgeon told me he wasn’t making any promises that I would be able to use it after it had healed.

It took almost a year of PT, but my finger works and looks fine, except for the scar. The surgeon was there because there was a bad car accident and he was called in to sew a man’s leg back together. The doctor was a cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon. Talk about being lucky. He was great. I had only been a Trooper for 2 years and my Sgt. came in the room and told me to take the rest of the week off. I was off for only 3 weeks.

After that, I quit playing ice hockey.
 
I remember (very well) goaltender Clint Malarchuk. He played for the Buffalo Sabres at the time (around 1989) when his jugular vein was slashed on the ice. Though he survived, there was no "follow up" for his mental health issues stemming from that tragic day. Subsequently, he developed a horrible relationship with alcohol. He spiraled from there, leading to an attempted suicide (22 caliber rifle held under his chin). He is now an advocate for mental health.
 
I have watched the video of this several times, trying to decide whether it was deliberate or not. It does sound like the police might bring charges against the man who kicked the other one that died.
When you watch them, it definitely appears that the guy intended to kick the other guy and you can see him swing his leg out. At the same time, someone else crashed into the kicker, so I think that he lost control of where his leg went, which is what other people are saying also. I do not think that he meant to kick the other player in the throat, but he did intend to stop him from getting into the play that was happening.
The guy who was kicked was able to get up afterwards, so at first it did not appear that he was hurt as badly as he was. Even after watching the video over and over, it is hard to say definitely what the first player was trying to do.
 
gracy225 said:
Did watching the video effect you? I've read it was absolutely horrifying to see.
Click to expand...
Yeah, especially since we were watching the Canadian broadcast (lived in Buffalo at that time, fewer commercials in Canada!) and they showed it in all its gory detail, complete with replays. I'll never be able to unsee that jet of blood coming out of his neck *shudder*

I think I remember reading later that he developed OCD and PTSD from it, so I have to say it affected him more. I hope he finds peace.
 
I'm not a hockey fan, never played or attended a game. So there's that.
Don't know how true, but I've read the guy that slashed the other's throat is known as a "dirty" player to begin with.
Those weren't benders on ice at a gongshow. I watched the guy's left leg go almost 6ft into the air to contact the throat of the other player.
Looked to me like a deliberate kick even though he was checked in doing so.
I think he used the body check to initiate an exaggerated kick foul.
Do I think he intended to kill the guy? ... no. But it looked deliberate to me nonetheless.
I would imagine it takes some conscious effort to get a skate 6ft into the air as shown on the replay.
Do I think the guy feels bad now, about what he did on purpose? ... yep, or I would hope so.
 
Naturally said:
I'm not a hockey fan, never played or attended a game. So there's that.
Don't know how true, but I've read the guy that slashed the other's throat is known as a "dirty" player to begin with.
Those weren't benders on ice at a gongshow. I watched the guy's left leg go almost 6ft into the air to contact the throat of the other player.
Looked to me like a deliberate kick even though he was checked in doing so.
I think he used the body check to initiate an exaggerated kick foul.
Do I think he intended to kill the guy? ... no. But it looked deliberate to me nonetheless.
I would imagine it takes some conscious effort to get a skate 6ft into the air as shown on the replay.
Do I think the guy feels bad now, about what he did on purpose? ... yep, or I would hope so.
Click to expand...
Have you ever fallen backwards on ice ? Did you do it while skating backwards at 20 miles an hour ? Did you do it while falling over one of the other players on your team ? That is what happened in this tragic ACCIDENT. No such a thing as a "kick foul " in any hockey league's rules book. The player whose skate accidentally cut the man's throat was voted by HIS TEAM MATES in the league as one of the most valuable players, last season, and he was selected to the English Elite Hockey League's All Star Team in 2022.

You admitted that you know very little about the sport. Thank goodness that those who are investigating this tragedy are not as uneducated as you are about hockey. JImB.
 
We have watched many games over 30 years and have seen many close calls with skates up in the air. I always did wonder if there was a way to protect the neck area. Strangely enough, even goalies don't wear their throat guards.
The worst event we have seen was, Chris Pronger take a puck to his chest and stop his heart. Luckily, they were able to get it going again.
Dangerous sport, but without the danger, talent, speed and spirit of the players, we probably would not be fans.
Our condolences to the family of this young man.
 
stretch5881 said:
We have watched many games over 30 years and have seen many close calls with skates up in the air. I always did wonder if there was a way to protect the neck area. Strangely enough, even goalies don't wear their throat guards.
The worst event we have seen was, Chris Pronger take a puck to his chest and stop his heart. Luckily, they were able to get it going again.
Dangerous sport, but without the danger, talent, speed and spirit of the players, we probably would not be fans.
Our condolences to the family of this young man.
Click to expand...
A slight correction about hockey goalies and their equipment. Under their sweater a hockey goalie has a chest and shoulder protector and full length arm and elbow protection pads, and hanging below their face mask there is a clear plastic throat guard that moves with the movement of their head. Here is a link to a popular CCM designed goalie neck, chest and shoulder protective item. Made of the same Kevlar material that Police vests are made from.

CCM Pro BNQ Shirt Style Goalie Neck Guard - Ice Warehouse

JimB.
 
jimintoronto said:
A slight correction about hockey goalies and their equipment. Under their sweater a hockey goalie has a chest and shoulder protector and full length arm and elbow protection pads, and hanging below their face mask there is a clear plastic throat guard that moves with the movement of their head. Here is a link to a popular CCM designed goalie neck, chest and shoulder protective item. Made of the same Kevlar material that Police vests are made from.

CCM Pro BNQ Shirt Style Goalie Neck Guard - Ice Warehouse

JimB.
Click to expand...
I see that they have protection for the neck. I didn't know that. Hidden by the mask. The clear protectors that hang from the mask are the ones that I don't see being used often. I'll have to pay closer attention. Thanks for the link.
 
I have been reading about this and it’s incredibly sad. I am glad that they are investigating in order to determine if it was truly an accident or not.
 
Teacher Terry said:
I have been reading about this and it’s incredibly sad. I am glad that they are investigating in order to determine if it was truly an accident or not.
Click to expand...
You seem to be implying that a professional hockey player with at least 10 years of experience would knowingly attempt to injure another player ? Why would you think that ? Repeat after me.....a TRAGIC ACCIDENT. By the way, this Canadian hockey equipment maker has sold out ALL of their neck protectors since this accident took place.

link. MSN
 
jimintoronto said:
You seem to be implying that a professional hockey player with at least 10 years of experience would knowingly attempt to injure another player ? Why would you think that ? Repeat after me.....a TRAGIC ACCIDENT. By the way, this Canadian hockey equipment maker has sold out ALL of their neck protectors since this accident took place.

link. MSN
Click to expand...
Then if you know the answer already why is there an investigation? There’s an investigation obviously because something needs to be examined and I am glad that they take this seriously.
 
It seemed he tried sticking his leg out/kicking to purposedly keep the player away?

Besides fighting hockey has a violent past that included the occasional stick fight. Sadly the one I recall was a stick that included a Jewish player who was taunted by the opposing player before the day and age of mandatory helmets. Heck there were goalies that played without a mask. eeek

The speed of the game creates conditions for fighting or anger pretty fast but the speed of the game really doesn't give time to plan something out during play especially. He didn't plan to kill him but did intend to intimidate the cut player?
 
WhatInThe said:
It seemed he tried sticking his leg out/kicking to purposedly keep the player away?

Besides fighting hockey has a violent past that included the occasional stick fight. Sadly the one I recall was a stick that included a Jewish player who was taunted by the opposing player before the day and age of mandatory helmets. Heck there were goalies that played without a mask. eeek

The speed of the game creates conditions for fighting or anger pretty fast but the speed of the game really doesn't give time to plan something out during play especially. He didn't plan to kill him but did intend to intimidate the cut player?
Click to expand...
Have you actually watched the video? I have, and the fact is that the player whose skate cut the other player was falling backwards after colliding with one of his team mates, while both of them were trying to stop the forward who was carrying the puck to wards their goal area. While falling backwards, one of the defensemen's legs flew up into the air, striking the forward in the throat. No intent to injure. Now think about baseball, and the times that a pitcher has hit a batter in the head, with a pitch ? Is that an attempt to injure the other player ? You tell me. JimB.
 
Naturally said:
I'm not a hockey fan, never played or attended a game. So there's that.
Don't know how true, but I've read the guy that slashed the other's throat is known as a "dirty" player to begin with.
Those weren't benders on ice at a gongshow. I watched the guy's left leg go almost 6ft into the air to contact the throat of the other player.
Looked to me like a deliberate kick even though he was checked in doing so.
I think he used the body check to initiate an exaggerated kick foul.
Do I think he intended to kill the guy? ... no. But it looked deliberate to me nonetheless.
I would imagine it takes some conscious effort to get a skate 6ft into the air as shown on the replay.
Do I think the guy feels bad now, about what he did on purpose? ... yep, or I would hope so.
Click to expand...
Back in the day before the rules were changed, some players did all kinds of dirty tricks. I still remember the match between Detroit and Chicago when (I forget names) the goalie for Detroit came out from the net and tripped a Detroit player on purpose. Next thing I saw was both benches emptying and the biggest and longest fight I have ever seen broke out. I mean these guys were using their sticks as weapons. I think the NHL suspended like 8 players from both sides. This was back about 1958 when I first started watching hockey.

My dad loved the game. For being a really nice man, or at least I thought he was, he liked to watch violent stuff on TV. That was back in the day when they allowed piling on in football. We were watching a game between the Giants and the Browns. Sam Huff was the last player to pile on Jimmy Brown on a play, the Brown’s fullback. The next play, Brown went right after Huff and blind-sided him with a low hit. The hit must have been really hard because they took Huff off the field on a gurney. My dad said ‘good for him. He deserved it.’
 

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