Celebration of life held in Hibbing for hockey player Adam Johnson
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Updated: Nov. 8, 11 a.m.
A public memorial service was held in Hibbing, Minn., on Monday afternoon for hockey player Adam Johnson, who died after being injured in a game in England.
The former Hibbing High School, University of Minnesota Duluth and Pittsburgh Penguins player died Oct. 28 after an on-ice accident in Sheffield, England.
A private funeral Mass for family and friends was held on Sunday.
The public celebration of life was held at the Memorial Building Arena in Hibbing.
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At the service, Johnson’s high school coach, Mark DeCenzo, said Johnson was humble on and off the ice.
“He was a player other players wanted to play with,” DeCenzo said. “Not just because he was talented. There are a lot of talented hockey players that nobody wants to play with. They wanted to play with him because he was unselfish, he was fun to be around, and he elevated their play.”
Johnson’s team, the Nottingham Panthers, has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser in his memory. It’s raised more than $85,000 to support charities and activities in the Hibbing area, to be selected by his family.
Johnson’s death has prompted heightened attention on hockey safety across the U.S. and around the world.
The English Ice Hockey Association announced it’ll make neck guards mandatory for players starting Jan. 1.
And Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said at a news conference last week that players for the team’s AHL and ECHL developmental teams will be required to wear neck and wrist guards.