MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS

No charges in 2023 death of ex-NHL, UMD player Adam Johnson

Field Level Media — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:24:24 GMT

British prosecutors announced Tuesday they will not pursue charges against the man arrested in the 2023 death of former NHL player Adam Johnson.

Johnson, 29, died shortly after his neck was slashed by a skate blade. Police in South Yorkshire, England, arrested a man two weeks later on suspicion of manslaughter.

Johnson, a forward who appeared in 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2018-20, was playing for the Elite Hockey League's Nottingham Panthers when the incident occurred in the second period of a game on Oct. 28, 2023.

Johnson was a Hibbing, Minnesota, native who played collegiate hockey with Minnesota Duluth.

Police did not identify the man they arrested, but Sheffield Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave was involved in the collision with Johnson. Petgrave, 32, later identified himself in a crowd-funding appeal to help with legal fees.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Tuesday it has decided not to bring criminal charges.

"The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved," Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn said.

"Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson."

Johnson received emergency treatment on the ice and was taken to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Johnson recorded one goal and three assists during his time with the Penguins.

Following the tragedy, the English Ice Hockey Association has required all players to wear neck guards since the start of 2024.

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Special teams burn Beavers in shutout loss against No. 6 Bulldogs

Jared Rubado — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 03:34:23 GMT

BEMIDJI – If goals only counted 5-on-5, the Bemidji State women’s hockey team might still be playing against Minnesota Duluth.

Unfortunately for the Beavers, special-teams goals count.

Caitlin Kraemer scored short-handed and on the power play to push the Bulldogs to a 2-0 win over BSU on Friday night at the Sanford Center. It’s a win that snapped a six-game losing streak for UMD.

“Systematically, I thought it was our most consistent 60 minutes we’ve had quite a long time, so we’re really happy with that,” BSU head coach Amber Fryklund said of even-strength play. “We talked a lot this week about defensive-zone coverage … along with our breakouts. Our defense was awesome today. They had good gaps, they were able to break the puck out efficiently, so I’m really proud of that.”

Bemidji State came out of its series against Minnesota State last weekend liking where its power play was heading. However, the Beavers’ first attempt on the 5-on-4 veered off course.

Kraemer received a two-line pass from Tova Henderson, walked across the blue line and sniped the low-left corner of the net to put the Bulldogs ahead 1-0 four and a half minutes into the game.

“We weren’t moving our feet in that first (power play),” Fryklund said. “We got stuck in our zone and didn’t have support coming back. We got caught flat-footed. It’s just kind of a reset there. I thought our power plays (after that) had some good puck movement, we just couldn’t pop one.”

Kraemer burned BSU again, this time on the Bulldogs’ first power play. She finished off a tic-tac-toe passing sequence with Olivia Wallin and Clara Van Wieren to double the lead midway through the second period.

“On the penalty kill, we knew that was coming,” Fryklund said. “They were able to capitalize. But I liked our response on our other penalty kill and how we were able to kill it off.”

Bemidji State had a few chances to cut into the Bulldogs’ lead in the middle frame, including a 2-on-1 rush with Morgan Smith and Isa Goettl. Smith fed a behind-the-back pass to Goettl, who missed wide of goaltender Tindra Holm.

“We had two grade-A chances there in the second period that we’d love to have back,” Fryklund said. “The message to our team is, 5-on-5, that was a 0-0 game. Special teams also play a factor. It’s just about building on some areas in which I thought we grew. Coming back tomorrow, a big area of focus for us is how we get more pucks to the net.”

Minnesota Duluth dressed just nine forwards and five defensemen. It limited BSU to nine shots on goal, blocking 16 attempts en route to a skid-snapping win.

“They were getting in our shots lanes, and obviously, we were taking too much time with the puck before getting (shots) off,” Fryklund said. “Certainly, we can get pucks off quicker and change the angle of our shots. But also, it’s just recovering pucks in the offensive zone and winning battles so we have more zone time.

“We need to get pucks behind them and make them skate 200 feet. That’s an opportunity for us that we can maybe take advantage of tomorrow.”

Bemidji State (5-24-1, 3-20-0 WCHA) sophomore goaltender Eva Filippova made 24 saves in the loss. She missed nearly the entire first half of the 2024-25 season with an injury before making her first appearance in relief on Nov. 22 against UMD (16-11-2, 11-10-2 WCHA).

Now, Filippova is rounding out an impressive trio of underclassmen goaltenders for the Beavers.

“She just continues to work hard in practice and continues to take feedback,” Fryklund said. “Coming back from her injury, she just continues to get better every week, and it’s great to see that out of her. She played a lot of minutes for us last year. Coming back after that injury, she continues to be confident in the net.”

No. 6 Minnesota Duluth 2, Bemidji State 0

UMD 1 1 0 – 2

BSU 0 0 0 – 0

First period – UMD GOAL: Kraemer (Henderson, Mobley) SHG, 4:30.

Second period – UMD GOAL: Kraemer (Wallin, Van Wieren) PPG, 6:48

Third period – No scoring.

Saves – Filippova (BSU) 24; Holm (UMD) 9.

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Bulldogs fend off Beavers’ 3rd-period push to spoil New Year’s Eve celebration

Jared Rubado — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 04:58:57 GMT

BEMIDJI – For five and a half periods, the Bemidji State men’s hockey team and Minnesota Duluth played with the scoreboard showing a tie or a one-goal lead.

Then Harper Bentz scored late in the third period for the Bulldogs.

The UMD freshman out of Moorhead capitalized on Aaron Pionk’s rebound shot to his team ahead 4-2, and in a split-month, split-site series. The score held until time expired.

Bentz’s tally followed a near game-tying sequence for the Beavers. Kasper Magnussen found himself all alone on the back door in front of a yawning net but couldn’t get a solid stick on the loose puck.

“That’s how close hockey is,” BSU head coach Tom Serratore said. “We’re an inch away from tying the game with Kasper there. We’re an inch away from tying it up, and then 30 seconds later, we break a stick and they go up two. That’s hockey.”

Minnesota Duluth took the lead early in the third period. Owen Gallatin beat goaltender Mattias Sholl on a shot from the top of the circle to push the Bulldogs ahead 3-2.

It was the third time UMD took a one-goal lead on Tuesday night at the Sanford Center.

“I thought we played pretty good the last two periods,” fifth-year forward Austin Jouppi said. “But obviously, we have to know how to win a game in the third period. I think we still have a lot to figure out, a lot to tweak and a lot to work out in practice – kind of build off that, and, hopefully, win some conference games here soon.”

With six and half minutes left in the first period, AJ Macaulay delivered a hit on UMD’s Dominic James in the corner behind the BSU net. James’ foot rose upon contact and shattered the glass behind him.

After a lengthy delay to install a new glass panel, Minnesota Duluth was given a power play. In the final seconds of the man advantage, Jayson Shaugabay snuck a shot under Sholl’s arm to put the Bulldogs ahead 1-0.

From there, the ice was tilted. UMD finished the first period with a one-goal lead and a 14-7 edge in shots on goal.

“The first period, we weren’t very good,” Serratore said. “They came into our barn, and in the first period, they won the period. Territorially, they won it. They had more juice than us in the first but I was proud of our guys for how they played in the second and the third.”

Jouppi grew up watching the Bulldogs, then he scored against them.

The fifth-year forward and Duluth native tied the game two and a half minutes into the second period by tipping in Macaulay’s shot from the point.

“Anytime you can score against the hometown team, it’s pretty cool,” Jouppi said. “Obviously, what’s more important to me is getting the win tonight, but it’s all right. I’m just looking forward to getting back at it and getting some more games in here, start stringing together some wins, hopefully.”

The tying goal held for just three minutes. Aiden Dubinsky retook the one-goal lead for UMD, finishing off a chaotic sequence that landed Sholl on his back deep in his crease.

Bemidji State answered 79 seconds later on the power play.

After Joey Pierce took an interference penalty, Kirklan Irey finished off Magnussen’s rebound to level the game at 2-2.

“Sometimes, it’s a testament to the shooter,” Serratore said of how the power-play goal unfolded. “Putting the shot in the right spot, and, of course, if everybody is in the right spot, good things can happen a lot of the time. Of course, on the power play, we all know they have one less guy, too.”

Minnesota Duluth freshman goaltender Klayton Knapp was the difference for the Bulldogs. He stopped 26 shots – many of the high-danger variety – to earn a season split.

The Beavers opened the season with the first half of their series against the Bulldogs. It ended thrillingly, with Jackson Jutting scoring the overtime winner in a 4-3 triumph.

BSU finished its nonconference slate with a record of 3-4-1, with wins over Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota and North Dakota.

“I think we have one of the hardest nonconference schedules there is,” Jouppi said. “We play against a lot of really good teams, and that makes us better as a team, too. We’re just kind of learning from that and building on that. Every year is a new team, so it’s just continuing to get better. Hopefully, we can start stringing together some more wins here, too.”

The Beavers were expected to be without Reilly Funk “for a while,” according to Serratore in his weekly press conference on Dec. 10. Funk suffered an upper-body injury in BSU’s second road game against Lake Superior State in the third period.

Funk, however, returned to the lineup before the start of the new year.

“It’s awesome having him back,” Serratore said. “He looked good tonight, you guys saw it, too. We talked about it between periods, he’s the heartbeat of our team. … He’s hard to handle. He’s 6-foot-2, maybe 6-foot-3 – whatever he is, 220 (pounds) – he moves well, has good puck skills and has a good brain. It’s nice to have those guys, it’s nice to have Funker back. It’s nice to have depth at center.”

Despite the loss, Serratore was satisfied with how the Beavers finished the game against the Bulldogs, as was Jouppi, who hopes it’s a precursor to another big second half.

“What’s fun about the second half is everything is spotlighted,” Jouppi said. “All of the points matter. They matter all year, but in the second half, you really start to notice them. You can see where we’re at in the standings and see how it’s going to end up. I’m really excited, I know the boys are really excited to get rolling down the stretch and string together some wins, play for home ice and, hopefully, win the conference.”

Minnesota Duluth 4, Bemidji State 2

UMD 1 1 2 – 4

BSU 0 2 0 – 2

First period – UMD GOAL: Shaugabay (Bentz, Z. Plante) PPG, 15:18.

Second period – BSU GOAL: Jouppi (Macaulay, Funk) 2:29; UMD GOAL: Dubinsky (Smith, Fischer) 5:29; BSU GOAL: Irey (Magnussen, Parekh) PPG, 6:48;

Third period – UMD GOAL: Gallatin (Z. Plante, Bentz) 4:48; UMD GOAL: Bentz (Pionk, Menghini) 15:44.

Saves – Sholl (BSU) 30; Knapp (UMD) 26.

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Beavers gear up for 2nd-half 'sprint' in New Year’s Eve clash with Bulldogs

Jared Rubado — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 18:39:04 GMT

BEMIDJI – The Bevaers needed a break.

After suffering a cataclysmic 9-5 loss against Michigan Tech at the Sanford Center on Dec. 15 – one that included a six-goal third period for the Huskies – the Bemidji State men’s hockey team needed to reset.

“The (holiday) break makes it a little easier in some ways because you get time to refresh,” fifth-year captain Jackson Jutting said. “You think about it for a few days, then it kind of goes away, just like any other game, whether we win or lose. The break kind of helps you clear your headspace about that. That weekend, that’s just college hockey – crazy things happen.”

BSU spent a week and a half away from college hockey. Now, it returns to finish off a series against Minnesota Duluth on New Year’s Eve while kicking off the second half of the season.

Tuesday night’s 7:07 p.m. contest is a chance for Bemidji State to add to its already impressive nonconference resume.

The Beavers opened the season on Oct. 5 with a 4-3 overtime win over the Bulldogs. Since then, they’ve knocked off Minnesota and North Dakota.

“They’re going to be a completely different team than they were at the beginning of the year, and the same goes for us,” Jutting said of UMD. “It’s tough to look at a team and watch film on them from a couple of months ago. They’re going to have tendencies that are the same, but they’re different.

“They’re a very disciplined team and they’re hard to play against. They’re similar to us in that way – really systematic and they play those systems really well. It’s going to be a low-scoring game, most likely. They’ll have a well-rounded team.”

Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore doesn’t see much use in recalling from BSU’s season-opening win at Amsoil Arena.

“We’re not pulling anything from that game,” Serratore said. “Normally, I would, but that was the first game of the season. … That game was kind of just drop the puck and let your hockey sense take over, just make sure you have good habits. That was a long time ago, and we’re not looking at anything in particular from that game. It’s a waste of time, they’re a pretty young team. They’re a lot different of a hockey team right now.”

The Bulldogs (5-10-0) will be without standout freshmen Max Plante and Adam Kleber, who are playing for Team USA in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. UMD head coach Scott Sandelin is hopeful freshmen goaltenders Adam Gajan and Klayton Knapp and fifth-year forward Joe Molenaar are healthy for Tuesday’s contest as well, per Matt Wellens of the Duluth News Tribune. Freshman Trevor Stachowiak is out with a long-term injury.

Serratore added that Bemidji State is a different team than it was three months ago, too.

Reilly Funk and Vince Corcoran played in most of the Beavers’ 8-8-3 start. Funk suffered an upper-body injury against Lake Superior State on Dec. 7, causing him to miss extended time. Corcoran exited BSU’s series against Michigan Tech with an upper-body injury as well.

Serratore said Corcoran “will be out a while” with his injury. He’s likely to be held out of the lineup through January.

Bemidji State will lean on its depth to fill those shoes. Freshman Luke Roelofs has played 11 games for the Beavers. Veterans like Patrik Satosaari and AJ Macaulay also saw extended minutes against MTU before the break.

“We need to reestablish our identity and live with that identity,” Serratore said. “I think that’s what we did last year when we went on that run. When you see teams go on those runs, they are really playing mistake-free.

“Listening to Tom Brady (on Sunday) during the Vikings game, he was talking like a coach the whole time. Know the situation, know where you are in the pocket, know where you are on the field. … All of those situations are different, and those are situations that coaches have to establish and reestablish with their teams. The execution part comes down to the players.”

Doing the chasing

Bemidji State’s final nonconference game comes before a crucial stretch of 14 league games. Last year, the Beavers entered Christmas in first place in the league standings. Now they’re in sixth with a points percentage of .500.

While BSU brought back 18 players who helped put together an 11-game unbeaten run en route to the Mason Cup final, this time, they’ll be doing the chasing in the CCHA standings instead of being chased.

“For us, it doesn't change much,” Jutting said. “We just have to take it one game at a time, stick to our identity as a team and let the chips fall where they may. We can’t control any other team besides ourselves. Going into every weekend with a 1-0 mindset, trying to win the game in front of us, is super important.”

“I like Jutts’ mentality right there,” Serratore said. “That one-game-at-a-time thing is legit. It’s kind of a cliche – coaches say that, players say that – but it’s legit. You can’t get too far ahead of yourself. You have to live in the moment. Our moment right now is the UMD Bulldogs.”

Despite the veteran group standing in different boots last winter, the eighth-oldest team in college hockey feels confident in its ability to keep the second-half “sprint” in perspective.

“As the older guys on the team, we’re making sure we’re not panicking,” Jutting said. “We control our own destiny. We still have a lot of games left, but we have to understand the importance of every game we play. Hopefully, that translates into a top spot in the league.”

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Eva Filippova makes 37 saves in season-debut; Beavers blanked by Bulldogs

Jared Rubado — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:25:22 GMT

DULUTH – Eva Filippova got her first action this season on Friday night in the third period in relief of goaltender Kaitlin Groess.

Filippova, a sophomore, made 11 saves in an 8-1 loss. She made 37 more in her first start on Saturday.

Filippova became the fourth BSU goaltender to start a game for the Bemidji State women’s hockey team this season. She kept the Beavers (3-12-1, 2-10-0 WCHA) within striking distance in a 2-0 loss against No. 4 Minnesota Duluth at Amsoil Arena.

Tova Henderson scored on the power play in the first period for the Bulldogs (8-5-1, 7-4-1 WCHA) before Olivia Mobley made it 2-0 in the second period. Danielle Burgen, Mary Kate O’Brien and Olivia Wallin had assists.

No. 4 Minnesota Duluth 2, Bemidji State 0

BSU 0 0 0 – 0

UMD 1 1 0 – 2

First period – UMD GOAL: Henderson (Burgen, O’Brien) PPG, 12:47.

Second period – UMD GOAL: Mobley (Wallin) 8:18.

Third period – No scoring.

Saves – Filippova (BSU) 37; Holm (UMD) 12.

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Tracy Dill stepping down as WCHA commissioner

Mick Hatten — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 02:25:06 GMT

Tracy Dill has announced that he will step down as the commissioner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for personal reasons effective June 30.

“I want to express my appreciation to the WCHA membership for allowing me the opportunity to serve as the league commissioner for the past two years," Dill said in a news release. "The strength of the WCHA is the outstanding people including the WCHA league staff, student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and faculty representatives. I want to thank each of them and wish them nothing but the best for the WCHA."

Dill joined the WCHA office in July 2022 and served as the conference’s interim commissioner the past two seasons.

“We appreciate the steadfast dedication and effort Tracy has committed to our league in providing us with an outstanding level of leadership these past two years," Minnesota State University director of athletics Kevin Busiman, who also serves as the chair of the WCHA’s Advisory Council and Management Committee, said in the news release. "The WCHA has established an operational standard others aspire to attain and Tracy was able to raise the bar even further.

“He leaves our league even more well-positioned as the leader in collegiate women’s hockey. Tracy brought a wealth of experience and passion for the sport that made him extremely effective in this role and he has set the table for someone to step into that position and continue to move us forward. We are grateful for his service and we wish Tracy and his family much joy and happiness as he steps away and transitions further into this next phase of retirement.”

Under the leadership of Dill over the past two seasons, WCHA teams have won two NCAA championships. The WCHA has now won 21 NCAA Division I championships since league play began in 1999-00.

In the past two seasons, WCHA players earned All-America honors 10 times along with Ohio State’s Sophie Jaques receiving the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2023 and Wisconsin’s Casey O’Brien and Kirsten Simms being selected as Kazmaier Award top three finalists in 2024.

Dill has helped grow the WCHA’s corporate partnership base during his tenure, which included sponsorship of the league’s annual Final Faceoff tournament with Kwik Trip along with partnerships with Cub Foods, Two Men and A Truck, Krampade, Howies Hockey Tape, Game One, Sterling Trophy & Awards, Print Labs and JLG Ice.

The visibility of the league continued to match the excellence of its teams as 15 WCHA games were televised live on FOX9+ in the Twin Cities in 2023-24, which also included coverage in Duluth; Madison, Wis., and Columbus, Ohio. In 2024, the St. Cloud State vs. Ohio State game was included as part of Bally Sports Hockey Day Minnesota coverage and two league games were featured on the Big Ten Network.

The WCHA’s online presence has also grown as B1G+ has offered live streaming of all home WCHA games over the past two seasons along with consistent growth of followers on the league social media platforms and usage of the league’s website, WCHA.com

Dill has been involved in college athletics as a player, coach, and administrator for more than 40 years. Prior to his time with the WCHA, Dill spent nine years at Bemidji State as that school's director of intercollegiate athletics. Prior to his tenure at Bemidji State, Dill was at St. Cloud State University, another WCHA member institution, for 28 years in various capacities, including coaching and administration.

The WCHA will begin the process of finding a replacement for Dill immediately.

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Former UMD coach lands huge fish through the ice

John Myers — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:58:15 GMT

DULUTH — Mike Sertich was fishing for walleyes through the ice in Minnesota's Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods when he felt a hit a bit harder than any walleye.

“I’m sure it was the same fish that hit me a half hour before, but the first time, he broke me off right away. The line broke just below the swivel,” said Sertich. “The second time, it was like a train hit my line. He took off to the other side of the lake.”

Sertich, the former Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men’s hockey coach, counted each time the fish made a run, then, when it slowed, he would reel it back in. That was 25 times. The battle lasted an hour.

The fish hit a ¼-ounce banana jig, gold, tipped with a minnow.

“He spooled me twice. It was a miracle that he didn’t just keep going,” Sertich told the News Tribune, referring to the fish pulling nearly all the 6-pound-test line off his reel. “I could see that knot coming up and thought, well, this is it.”

But the fish finally tired, and one of Sertich’s angling buddies got down on his knees and managed to grab the fish below the gill plates and haul it out of the 10-inch diameter hole in the ice.

A 4-foot-long muskie. Somehow, the muskie's sharp teeth avoided the thin fishing line. And somehow, the small hook on the little jig didn't bend or break.

When the commotion calmed, the fish measured out at 48 inches long and about 20 inches around the belly. The muskie was estimated at 35 pounds. But it was never weighed. After a couple of photos were snapped, the big fish was released to swim again.

“We weren't sure what it was until it came right up under the hole. We thought maybe a northern or a sturgeon or even a lake trout? Nobody was thinking muskie,” Sertich noted.

Sertich credited the 30-inch rod he was using that was handmade by Duluth's Geoff Vukelich of Dam Goods and Gear.

Sertich, 77, has been making the annual ice fishing trek to Oak Island at the far northern tip of Minnesota for 30 years with longtime friend Dave Zentner of Duluth and others. While other members of the group have caught big northerns nearing 40 inches in the past, nobody had ever caught a muskie through the ice like Sertich's.

"It was pulling so hard I thought he had a harbor seal on the line or something. ... Sertie is a good walleye fisherman, but for anyone to keep that fish on that long ... amazing. We were sort of mesmerized by the whole battle," Zentner said. "After a while, I thought maybe someone knew it was Sertie in our (ice fishing) house and was playing some sort of trick on him. But then we saw the fish."

“I’ve never even caught a muskie before, except by accident. I’m a walleye guy,” Sertich noted.

The battle took place on Jan. 13 out of Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge. Sertich said the walleye fishing was pretty good over the three-day trip until a cold snap hit the last day. While muskies hitting through the ice Are fairly rare, this was at least the second big one to hit on Lake of The Woods this winter. A Rice Lake, Wis., girl landed a 50.5-inch muskie on the south shore on Dec. 31.

A Virginia native, Sertich was head coach of the UMD Bulldog men’s hockey team from 1982 through 2000 and brought the program into prominence in NCAA hockey. He went on to coach at Michigan Technological University before retiring in 2003. He later volunteered with the College of St. Scholastica and Hermantown youth hockey programs and worked with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.

Sertich moved from the Duluth area to rural Eveleth in 2016. In 2022, Sertich was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a battle he continues to fight today.

“I’m day-to-day,” Sertich said. “Today is a better day. … I’ve got a big checkup coming in February, so we’ll see how that goes.”

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Man arrested in connection with Adam Johnson incident

Staff reports — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 18:00:01 GMT

SHEFFIELD, U.K. — An unidentified man was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 14, on suspicion of manslaughter in the investigation of the death of former Hibbing/Chisholm and Minnesota Duluth men's hockey player Adam Johnson in an on-ice incident on Oct. 28.

The South Yorkshire Police have been conducting the investigation after Johnson suffered a fatal cut to the neck from the skate blade of opposing player Matt Petgrave during an Elite Ice Hockey League game between Johnson's Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers in Sheffield.

After extensive treatment at the arena, Johnson was taken to a local hospital and died of his injuries. Officials in both professional athletics and criminal law have publicly weighed in on the incident since Johnson's death, speculating that Petgrave could be subject to a manslaughter charge.

"We have been carrying out extensive inquiries to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances," Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said in a news release. "We have been speaking to highly specialised experts in their field to assist in our inquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.

"Adam's death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world."

The arrested man was not identified but remains in police custody, according to the release.

Kari Johnson, Adam's aunt, told the New York Post earlier this month that she believes the other player did not intend to kill Adam, but that his actions were "very reckless."

“I just want them [authorities investigating] to get it right. We are looking for justice for Adam," she told the Post.

Reached Tuesday by The Rink Live following news of the arrest, Kari Johnson said the family won't be commenting at this time.

An inquest into Johnson's death was recently adjourned until Jan. 26, 2024, to allow for a coroner's investigation to be completed.

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Wisconsin marches to No. 1 in USA Hockey / The Rink Live men's hockey poll

The Rink Live — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 20:28:44 GMT

Wisconsin jumped to No. 1 in this week's USA Hockey / The Rink Live men's college hockey poll, marking head coach Mike Hastings' return to the top spot when he led his former team, Minnesota State, atop the rankings on March 28, 2022.

The 9-1-0 Badgers collected 28 first-place votes and moved up two spots this week, switching places with Boston College. Unranked at the beginning of the season, Wisconsin ascended to the top spot in just its fourth week in the poll. Denver remained the No. 2 team in the poll. North Dakota remained fourth while Providence displaced Minnesota to round out the top five.

Wisconsin was idle last weekend as it prepares for a weekend series at Michigan State. Winners of their past six games, the Badgers' only blemish is a 2-0 loss on Oct. 14 at North Dakota.

Rank, ��, last week, record, weeks in poll

1. University of Wisconsin, 664 (28), 3, 9-1-0, 4

2. University of Denver, 607 (3), 2, 7-2-1, 7

3. Boston College, 584 (2), 1, 7-2-1, 7

4. University of North Dakota, 583, 4, 7-2-1, 7

5. Providence College, 529 (1), 6, 8-1-2, 7

6. University of Minnesota, 504, 5, 5-3-2, 7

7. Quinnipiac University, 461, 10, 7-3-1, 7

8. Boston University, 453, 8, 6-3-1, 7

9. University of Maine, 401, 13, 6-1-1, 3

10. Cornell University, 372, 7, 4-1-1, 7

11. Michigan State University, 348, 11, 8-3-1, 7

12. University of Michigan, 341, 9, 5-5-1, 7

13. University of New Hampshire, 217, 15, 4-2-1, 3

14. Arizona State University, 212, 17, 7-2-1, 5

15. University of Massachusetts, 172, 14, 6-3-1, 4

16. Western Michigan University, 171, 12, 4-3-1, 7

17. St. Cloud State University, 121, NR, 6-4-0, 4

18. University of Notre Dame, 113, NR, 6-3-2, 2

19. Penn State University, 88, 16, 5-3-3, 7

20. Harvard University, 49, 20, 1-1-3, 7

Others receiving votes: Colorado College, 46; University of Alaska, 40; Rochester Institute of Technology, 19; University of Minnesota Duluth, 15; University of Nebraska-Omaha, 15; Ohio State University, 7; Dartmouth College, 4; Michigan Tech University, 4.

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Hibbing celebrates quick wit, smile of Adam Johnson

Matt Wellens — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 20:09:48 GMT

HIBBING, Minn. — The life of former Hibbing/Chisholm Blue Jacket and Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Adam Johnson was celebrated Monday in his hometown on the very ice he grew up playing on.

Johnson, who died Oct. 28 at age 29 after being cut by a skate in the neck while playing professional hockey in the United Kingdom, was remembered by those who loved him as a talented hockey player, a caring friend and loving fiance.

What he was not was a good guitar player, despite the amp, instrument and lessons his parents, Susan and Davey, paid for when he was 13.

On Monday at Hibbing Memorial Arena, where that guitar and amp now rested on the ice, thousands clapped along and cheered as the band Hobo Revival closed Johnson’s memorial service playing the song Johnson so desperately wanted to learn as a teenager, AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

His failed exploits as a musician — shared by the band at the very end — was one of the many stories shared by coaches, teammates and family about Johnson, who former Blue Jackets coach Mark DeCenzo called, “a great person, who also happened to be a great hockey player.”

“He was a player other players wanted to play with, 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,” said an emotional DeCenzo while being comforted at the podium by Davey Johnson. “He didn’t brag. He let his play do the speaking for him. He was humble.”

DeCenzo was one of four of Johnson’s coaches who spoke Monday along with former Blue Jackets assistant coach — now head coach at Grand Rapids — Grant Clafton, Bulldogs head coach Scott Sandelin and Nottingham Panthers assistant coach Kevin Moore.

Clafton was one of many who told stories about Johnson’s quick wit. For Clafton, he was often a target for Johnson on the golf course, after hitting a shot that was well off target.

“I made the mistake of telling Adam not to worry. ‘I was really tight from 150 yards out,’ and I could carry us there. Needless to say, I did not fulfill that expectation I set,” Clafton said. “For the remaining years in golf, Adam reminded me just how pathetic of a showing I had. Every time we golfed from thereafter, if I had a bad drive, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry Grant. You’re tight from 150.’”

Clafton called Johnson one of the “more pure and genuine” people he knew. Panthers’ chief executive Omar Pacha, who also came to Hibbing along with Moore, to speak Monday, echoed that sentiment in his remarks.

Johnson was in his first season playing for the Panthers in the U.K.’s Elite Ice Hockey League in 2023-24 after playing last season in Germany. Johnson also played in Sweden, the American Hockey League and with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins during his pro career.

Pacha described Johnson as a talented hockey player, who was humble and unselfish. He had “zero ego” and a “contagious smile.”

“Often, players that come to our league understandably have multiple questions, and at times can be quite demanding on numerous things such as accommodations, flights and cars, but not Adam,” Pacha said. “He kept saying, ‘Omar, I’m low-maintenance. Don’t worry about me.’

“I will never, ever forget the two words he would always finish every conversation with, with everybody at the arena. ‘Thank you.’ Always humble, always polite, always grateful. That was our No. 47.”

Former teammates of Johnson’s who played with him at Hibbing Memorial Arena — where Johnson’s No. 7 is now painted on the ice and will be retired Dec. 5 — that spoke Monday included Michael Pechnovnik, Jake Doherty, Joe Anderson and Billy Wherland.

Two of Johnson’s former teammates at Minnesota Duluth, Neal Pionk and Parker Mackay, also shared stories. In addition to being teammates of Johnson during his two seasons at UMD from 2015-17, they were roommates of his in Duluth.

Pionk, who also played two seasons with Johnson on the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, said you knew Johnson liked you if he greeted you with an insult. You knew he loved you if he’d continue the banter throughout the day.

“We continued showing this unique way to show our love throughout our relationship,” said Pionk, who was one of several Winnipeg Jets players who was flown in by the franchise for Johnson’s funeral on Sunday and memorial on Monday. “This year in Winnipeg, we started the season with one win and three losses. One of Adam’s last texts to me was, ‘You’re off to an abysmal start. Pick it up.’ I’m going to miss those texts every single day.”

Mackay thanked Johnson for “rewarding” him with the nickname “Holy snowshoe” after getting beat by Johnson by “half an ice sheet” in an end-of-summer conditioning drill. He recalled the phone call he got from Johnson in summer 2017 when Johnson decided to turn pro and sign with the Penguins.

Mackay, now a scout for the Boston Bruins, said it was an exciting, but devastating phone call. The emotional conversation ended as all of theirs did, with a quick, “I love you, bud.”

“Sue, Davey, the entire Hibbing community, I want to thank you for raising one of my best friends and someone I will always look up to,” Mackay said. “Your generosity, infectious smile and genuine personality are all traits I will carry with me forever. This conversation will end no differently than others we’ve shared in the past, Adam. I love you buddy, and I’ll miss you every day.”

Adam Johnson is survived by his mother, Susan Johnson; father, Davey Johnson; brother, Ryan; sister-in-law and friend, Ebony Johnson; and fiancée, Ryan Wolfe.

This story was updated at 10:37 p.m. Nov. 6 with the name of the band that played at Monday's memorial service. It was originally posted at 9:31 p.m. Nov. 6.

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