15-11-2023 (LONDON) A man has been apprehended on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the tragic death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson, who suffered a fatal neck injury during a match. The incident occurred during a Nottingham Panthers game against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28.
The 29-year-old player was struck in the neck by a skate, leading to his immediate hospitalization. Despite efforts to save him, Johnson was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination conducted by South Yorkshire Police confirmed the cause of death to be a fatal neck injury.
Authorities disclosed that the suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday and is currently under investigation. Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall of South Yorkshire Police commented on the ongoing inquiry, stating, “We have been conducting extensive investigations to reconstruct the events that led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances.”
Specialized experts are assisting in the investigation, and collaboration with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council is ongoing. Horsfall acknowledged the impact of Johnson’s death, expressing, “Adam’s death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world.”
She urged the public to avoid “comment and speculation which could hinder” the investigation.
Adam Johnson, originally from Minnesota in the US, had played in North America’s National Hockey League (NHL), notably featuring 13 times for the Pittsburgh Penguins. His career also included stints in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the American Hockey League with the Ontario Reign and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and the German team Augsburger Panther before joining the Nottingham Panthers in August.
Speaking to KSTP-TV, a Minnesota-based news station, Johnson’s aunt, Kari Johnson, revealed that the player had plans to propose to his partner, Ryan Wolfe. She expressed the family’s devastation, saying, “We were all really excited because we were really looking forward to their future, and he didn’t get a chance to ask her, and then this happened.”
The inquest into Johnson’s death was opened and adjourned earlier this month. In a report addressing prevention of future deaths, coroner Tanyka Rawden recommended the mandatory use of neck guards in ice hockey. While the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in the UK announced it would not enforce their use, the English Ice Hockey Association, overseeing all levels below the Elite League, mandated neck guards from 2024 onwards.
The Nottingham Panthers, where Johnson was playing at the time of the incident, described it as a “freak accident.” The incident has reverberated globally, prompting a collective mourning from the ice hockey community and beyond.
BREAKING: British police have arrested Matt Petgrave & charged him with manslaughter
He killed NHL player Adam Johnson on live TV with his skate. He received a standing ovation at a game last night.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 14, 2023
