Over three and a half hours they filed onto the ice the place Adam Johnson as soon as performed.
More than 2,500 supporters from totally different ice hockey groups queued into the world that the Nottingham Panthers name residence.
Johnson died in a “freak accident” final Saturday after his neck was slashed by a skate.
Some mourners laid flowers outdoors earlier than making their method onto the rink.
A Manchester Storm fan informed me it “just felt right to travel down”.
He fought again tears within the torrential rain and defined: “There’s a strange concept in ice hockey known as the ‘hockey family’ – this could have happened to any guy on any team.
“It occurred so rapidly, it is actually troublesome to attempt to comprehend – it is about the whole lot altering in a blink of an eye fixed.
“It’s brought all the UK hockey teams together.”
As fireworks cracked and whizzed outdoors, inside an enormous display performed a video tribute to the no 47, who had solely lately joined the Midlands workforce.
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Family describe watching second Johnson was fatally injured
There have been pictures of the ahead in motion on the ice, chatting to fellow gamers, and having enjoyable.
Underneath was a big black and white {photograph} of the American, with the phrases: Adam Johnson 1994-2023. He was simply 29 years outdated.
It was quiet as music performed. People took time to write down messages in books of condolence and paused for a minute’s silence at 8.20pm – the time of his dying every week in the past. Some sat within the stands for a second of reflection.
A Panthers fan informed me she had cried all day when she heard the information. “The team is such a young team and it’s a lot for them to take on,” she stated.
“All I can say is all my love goes out to them.”
Another Nottingham fan informed me that “losing part of a club is not an easy thing, losing a human being is not an easy thing”.
They added: “The ice hockey family in England and around the world is a strong one, we’re all here together for him – we can only hope that from this tragedy lessons are learnt.”
Source: information.sky.com”