Adam Johnson’s heartbroken fiancée Ryan Wolfe visits memorial with his teammates to pay respects after tragedy on ice
She is now believed to be on her way back home to Minnesota to reunite with family
ADAM Johnson’s fiancee has visited a memorial filled with flowers and messages alongside his teammates to pay her respects.
Ryan Wolfe was in the crowd when the Nottingham Panthers forward was struck by an opponent’s ice skate on Saturday night.
The former NHL player suffered a gash to his throat when he collided with Sheffield Steelers’ Matt Petgrave, receiving emergency medical attention on the ice as Ryan rushed to be by her fiancee’s side.
He was rushed to hospital from the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, but later died of his injuries.
Devastated fans gathered outside the Panthers’ home venue, The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, to pay tribute on Sunday.
Supporters continued to convene around the venue on Monday, laying a sea of flowers and written messages.
Ryan is understood to have attended the makeshift memorial with Adam’s teammates yesterday.
She is now believed to be on her way back home to Minnesota to reunite with family.
It comes as ice hockey fans will hold vigils in both Nottingham and Sheffield on Saturday, gathering at 8pm ahead of a minute’s silence.
Ryan also shared a tribute from Adam’s former club Ontario Reign on her Instagram yesterday.
Ontario’s players laid Adam’s number 49 jersey on a stall at centre rink ahead of their game against the Abbotsford Cannucks.
And Pittsburgh Penguins players gathered on the ice with opponents Anaheim Ducks as a video tribute to Adam was played ahead of their match.
It comes after Ryan shared a video of her partner scoring for his former NHL team Pittsburgh Penguins.
It shows a smiling Adam being mobbed by joyous teammates after scoring his first goal in the NHL.
She captioned the video with three heartbreak emojis as friends passed on their condolences.
Earlier, Ryan took to Instagram to share a picture of the ice hockey player.
She said: “My sweet, sweet angel. I’ll miss you forever and love you always.”
Adam and Ryan are understood to have become engaged over the summer and were living in England together.
Former teammates and friends have also paid tribute to Johnson as an “absolutely magical” player who was loved by those he shared the ice with.
Panthers’ assistant coach Kevin Moore told fans they were “really grateful for all the love and support” shown.
He vowed: “As time goes on we are going to heal, we are going to do that together.
“We are going to be strong and will continue that way and we will do you guys proud.
“We appreciate you coming here today and we thank you for all your support.”
The Elite Ice Hockey League has confirmed the Panthers’ next three games have been postponed as players are “still coming to terms with the events of Saturday night”.
A statement added: “The Elite League can confirm that games scheduled for both Tuesday and Wednesday will be postponed.
“Earlier today, the coaches of eight teams consulted with their players about what should happen next.
“These teams expressed their wish to return to playing Elite League fixtures this weekend.
“Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers will not return to the ice this weekend, and we would continue to ask everyone to support these clubs through what is an intensely difficult time.
“All games taking place this weekend will be organised with appropriate and fitting tributes to Adam Johnson.
“Please bear with us, as this needs to be an on-going process to ensure that all tributes have been agreed with those affected most deeply by what has happened.
“The Elite League will give further details of the planned tributes ahead of the weekend, and we hope that fans from around the league will feel able to come together to pay tribute to Adam as part of what is a very sad and difficult process for everyone.”