On November 23rd, the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Men’s Hockey program will honor the life and legacy of Adam Johnson with a special Memorial Night during their game against Western Michigan at AMSOIL Arena. This thoughtfully planned evening aims to celebrate Adam’s passion for the game of hockey, raise awareness for the Adam Johnson Memorial Fund, and generate funds to ensure his legacy continues through the impactful work of the Memorial Fund.
The night’s events will showcase the deep connections Adam built within the hockey community. His youth hockey association will participate as the “Little Chippers” during intermissions, and the ceremonial puck drop will feature Adam’s former UMD teammates Avery Peterson and Parker MacKay, along with legendary equipment manager Dale Haagenson.
Adding to the excitement, an online auction will feature professional hockey jerseys donated by Adam’s former UMD teammates, including Carson Soucy, Karson Kuhlman, and Riley Tufte, among many others. In addition, UMD’s current players will wear specially designed warm-up jerseys created by Kyle Osterberg, a former teammate of Adam’s now playing professionally in Belfast, Ireland. These warm-up jerseys will be auctioned off as part of a “Jersey Off My Back” fundraiser.
The evening’s planning committee includes Sue Johnson, Dave Johnson, Ryan Wolf, Rhonda Brau, Lynn DeGrio, Mindy Nuhring, Christian Koelling, Laura Schnell, and Karen Pionk. Karen shared: “Adam was a special friend to our son Neal, and being part of this committee has been an honor. This event will honor Adam’s memory while making a meaningful difference in the hockey community through the memorial fund and ensuring his legacy inspires others for years to come. So many people and businesses have stepped up in a generous way to make the evening possible.”
The committee extends its heartfelt gratitude to individual donors Natalie & Sandy Hoff and Rhonda Brau, as well as businesses Advantage Emblem, Pro Print, and Sauce Hockey, for their significant contributions.
A silent auction featuring unique memorabilia and exclusive items will go live on Tuesday, November 19th at 8:00am. To view and bid on items, visit https://umdbulldogs.com/auctions/.
The Adam Johnson Memorial Fund was established to preserve Adam’s legacy, supporting initiatives that embody his spirit and dedication to the game he loved. All proceeds from the event will go toward the fund to ensure Adam’s impact continues to inspire generations of players and fans.
Tickets for the game are available through the UMD Bulldogs ticket office. For more information about the Adam Johnson Memorial Fund and how you can contribute, please visit https://gracf.org/adam-johnson-memorial-fund-established/.
