A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the tragic death of former NHL ice hockey player Adam Johnson in Sheffield last month.
Video footage showed Johnson being cut in the neck by a skate during a game against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28. His club, the Nottingham Panthers, described the incident as a “freak accident”.
It is not yet known who has been arrested.
It should be noted that Sheffield Steeler Matt Petgrave was the player who collided with Johnson during the game. Johnson later died at a hospital. An autopsy confirmed he died as a result of a fatal neck injury.
The coroner investigating the death relayed last week to the governing body of ice hockey in the UK that she is “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future” if neck guards are not worn.
Mrs. Rawden outlined the ‘matters of concern’ as: “The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) recommends that neck guards or protectors are worn, but there is no requirement for ice hockey players over the age of 18 to wear equipment designed to protect the neck.
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“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” Sheffield Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said in a statement, according to the Independent.
“We have been speaking to highly specialized experts in their field to assist in our inquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.
“Adam’s death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world. We know these communities will expect us to handle this investigation with the same professionalism, fairness, and sensitivity as any other and request that members of the public refrain from comment and speculation which could hinder this process. Our thoughts remain with all affected by this devastating incident as enquiries continue.”
The 29-year-old Johnson was a Minnesota native who played briefly with the Penguins in the NHL.
He played two years of hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and later played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL and in the American Hockey League before his move to play in Europe.
