Neal Pionk shares heartbreaking information about the passing of his groomsman Adam Johnson

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TJ Tucker
November 3, 2023 (9:46 PM)

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Adam Johnson's tragic death during a game in England last weekend has brought about so many tributes from people who knew him. This one cuts very deep, as Neal Pionk of the Winnipeg Jets said he can't get it out of his head.

For context, Pionk and Johnson were very good friends, with Johnson actually providing groomsman duties for Pionk's wedding. They were teammates for two years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Pionk will be in attendance for Johnson's funeral on Sunday, and is a speaker at his Celebration of Life on Monday. Pionk said he's devasted, and can't get it out of his head, even during games.

"The last couple of games every TV timeout I can't stop thinking about it. Every intermission it's all I think about. Yesterday I was in the penalty box that's all I was thinking about."

Pionk has, understandably, started wearing a neck guard during games, like many others in the NHL since Johnson's death from taking an opponent's skate to the neck during a game. More players wearing neck protection will end up being Johnson's legacy in the wake of his death. It is, however, unfortunate that it took something like this happening for players to be concerned enough to wear it.