‘He was like one of my brothers’ Pionk struggles with death of close friend tragically killed in English hockey league By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 6:26 PM CDT Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 Last Modified: 2:56 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 Updates

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TEMPE, Ariz. — Neal Pionk is playing hurt these days.

The veteran Winnipeg Jets defenceman has yet to miss a single shift but is struggling mightily over the on-ice death of Adam Johnson last weekend in England.

“He was one of my best friends. He was in my wedding two years ago,” an emotional Pionk said Friday.

“We played four years together, we lived together for probably six years. On top of that we golf together every summer, we fish together. His family is like family to me. He was like one of my brothers.”

Pionk, 28, agreed to speak about the tragedy with the Free Press following the team’s practice in Arizona, six days after Johnson’s throat was cut by an opponent’s skate during a professional game overseas.

The Minnesota products spent two seasons together with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL and then two more as teammates with the University of Minnesota-Duluth before their pro careers took them in different directions. Their bond, however, remained strong.

“The first three days I didn’t know I could cry so much,” said Pionk. “The last couple days… but some of them are good tears, too, because we’ve been sharing some really good stories and that’s what it’s all about.”

Pionk said he’s fortunate to have several teammates who can relate to his heavy heart. Alex Iafallo and Dominic Toninato were also teammates at UMD, and Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi played with Johnson on the Ontario Reign of the AHL.

“It’s been really good to have those guys, because Al and I have been sitting by each other on the bus every day and talk, and we share pictures and videos, share memories and stories. It’s been really helpful,” said Pionk.

“The first three days I didn’t know I could cry so much … The last couple days … but some of them are good tears, too, because we’ve been sharing some really good stories and that’s what it’s all about.”–Neal Pionk

“I’m thankful I have good family, friends and teammates. It’s been tough. It’s so tragic, so sudden and you don’t know it’s going to happen. You don’t prepare for anything like that in life, and that goes with all of his friends and family that are grieving. So, it’s been hard.”

Pionk described Johnson as someone who was wise beyond his years, with a wicked wit and sense of timing.

“He had that old-man sense of humour. Some guys looked to him as a father figure,” he said. “If he liked you, he’d insult you every time. And if he loved you, he’d continue the banter throughout the day. That’s who he was. That’s how he showed love. He might give you a jab but at the end of the day he was the most loyal friend ever, too.”

Pionk said that continued to be the case, even as his NHL career took flight while Johnson, with just 13 NHL games on his resume and many more in the AHL, eventually headed across the pond.

“That’s the stuff I’ll miss. Even little texts. If I had a bad game, he’d send me a text about it, stuff like that. That was his way of showing love to his true friends,” said Pionk.

“This was going to be his last year (of hockey). He was taking school and finishing his degree over there. Get in a little extra school and then come back home and start his life in the real world.”

While his own hockey career is serving as a welcome distraction from the reality of the situation, Pionk said Johnson remains front of mind.

“The last couple of games every TV timeout I can’t stop thinking about it. Every intermission it’s all I think about. (Thursday night in Las Vegas) I was in the penalty box, that’s all I was thinking about,” said Pionk.

“I’m glad we’re on a road and being around the guys. Middle of shift you probably don’t think about it. Playing cards on the plane you don’t think about it. But when you get moments of silence to yourself, that’s literally all you think about.”

Pionk is now one of several Jets players to be wearing neck protection, and multiple players around the NHL are doing the same as talks begin of potentially mandating them in the future. Other leagues around the world have already done so.

“The supply and demand is out of control. In five years from now you might look back and say there was a big change because of that,” said Pionk.

The Jets are currently on a three-game trip, which began with them flying to Vegas on Tuesday afternoon for some team-bonding, playing the Golden Knights on Thursday night and now taking on the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday afternoon. The finale goes Tuesday night in St. Louis.

Pionk’s itinerary now includes being chartered by the organization to Minnesota on Sunday morning, where he’ll attend Johnson’s private funeral that afternoon in Hibbing, then speak during Monday’s celebration of life that is open to the public.

Other Minnesota-born members of the Jets will join him to pay tribute, including Toninato, Nate Schmidt and Dylan Samberg. Iafallo is coming, too. The five men will then be chartered to Missouri to catch up with the Jets on Monday

“I’m on a road trip writing my speech, which, I never thought that would happen,” said Pionk. “We’ll get through it. We’ve got a lot of support.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg