A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death of hockey star Adam Johnson, who died after his neck was slashed by the skate of an opposing player during a game in England.
The man, who has not been named, is believed to be Matt Petgrave, the Sheffield Steelers player who collided with Johnson in the 35th minute of the game on October 28, 2023.
Johnson, a former NHL forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. His death was described as a “freak accident” by his team, the Nottingham Panthers.
The arrest was announced Tuesday – 17 days after the incident – but South Yorkshire Police did not identify the person taken into custody. In a press release, the department said detectives “arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter.”
The police have been studying footage of the incident and said the investigation is likely to take some time. The Elite Ice Hockey League, the UK’s top ice hockey division, has announced that it will not make the use of neck guards mandatory, but will strongly encourage players and officials to wear them after Johnson’s death.
The inquest into Johnson’s death has been opened and adjourned until January 26, 2024. The coroner offered her sincere condolences to Johnson’s family, friends, and all those who knew him.
