Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson has died after suffering a serious cut to his neck from a skate during Saturdays Challenge Cup match.

The game against the Sheffield Steelers was stopped in the 35^thminute as the 29-year-old American received emergency treatment from paramedics on the ice.

The Panthers said on Sunday they were devastated Johnson had died following a freak accident.

The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him, they added.

Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great team-mate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him.

The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adams family, his partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time.

Everyone at the club including players, staff, management and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adams passing.

Players visited Nottinghams Motorpoint Arena on Sunday to lay flowers and spoke to some of the hundred of fans who had gathered to pay tribute.

The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) confirmed Sundays matches across the UK have been postponed in light of this deeply upsetting news.

The thoughts of everyone connected with the EIHL are with Adams family, friends and team-mates at this incredibly sad and difficult time, the EIHL added.

The Panthers were due to play Manchester Storm on Sunday and the club has confirmed their home game against Glasgow Clan on Tuesday has also been postponed.

Fellow players formed a ring around Johnson in the immediate aftermath of the incident before protective screens were raised and the players returned to the locker rooms.

He was later taken to Sheffields Northern General Hospital.

The Panthers tweeted shortly after the incident that the 8,000 fans in attendance had been asked to leave the building due to a major medical emergency.

Our thoughts are also with the fans and staff of both clubs, especially those who attended or were following the game, who will be devastated following todays news, the Panthers said.

The Panthers would like to thank everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances.

We ask that the privacy of Adams family and friends, and everyone at the club is respected at this difficult time as we all seek to come to terms with our grief.

Rest in peace Adam.

Johnson previously played in North Americas National Hockey League (NHL), playing 13 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He made the move to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the 2020-21 season before spells with the Ontario Reign and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League.

Johnson played for Augsburger Panther in Germany before signing for the Nottingham Panthers in August.

Steelers lead tributes to Johnson

Sheffield said in their statement: Everyone at the Steelers send their condolences to Adam Johnsons partner, family and team-mates.

Football club Sheffield Wednesday observed a minutes silence before the start of their Championship game against Rotherham at Hillsborough on Sunday.

Our thoughts are with Adams family, friends, team-mates and everyone affected by the events of yesterday evening. RIP, Wednesday added on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Johnsons former club the Pittsburgh Penguins said: Adam will always be a part of the Penguins family. It was our honour to watch him fulfil his dream of playing in the National Hockey League.

The NHL added: Our prayers and deepest condolences go to his family, friends and team-mates.

Augsburger Panther, another of Johnsons former teams, said on social media they would hold a moments silence before their game against Dusseldorfer EG on Tuesday.

Alex Norris, the MP for Nottingham North said Johnsons death was devastating news for the city.

Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood added: I know the thoughts of our city are with Adam Johnsons family, friends, team-mates, everyone at the club, fans and in the wider ice hockey family. (BBC: Text, Excluding Headline)