A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson will not face charges, according to British prosecutors. Johnson, who played for the Nottingham Panthers, died after his neck was sliced during a game against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28, 2023. The incident involved a collision with Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave. Although South Yorkshire Police arrested a man two weeks later, the police have not publicly named him, but Petgrave indicated in a crowdfunding effort for legal fees that he was under investigation.
On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced it would not pursue criminal charges after a thorough investigation and review of the evidence. Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn stated there was “not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense,” and expressed condolences to Johnson’s family and friends. Following his arrest, Petgrave was re-bailed while the investigation unfolded. The incident occurred when Johnson skated into the defensive zone, and a collision with another player caused Petgrave’s skate blade to strike Johnson in the neck.
Johnson, a 29-year-old former Pittsburgh Penguins player, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, prompting discussions about player safety in the sport. Some of Johnson’s teammates, including Victor Björkung, expressed support for Petgrave, emphasizing that the incident was not intentional. Johnson was in his first season with Nottingham after playing in Germany and briefly for the Penguins. In response to the tragedy, the English Ice Hockey Association mandated that all players in England wear neck guards starting in 2024.
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