Police reveal probe into horrific death of ice hockey star Adam Johnson is ‘ongoing’ and they are speaking to experts to understand how his throat was slit by opponent’s skate

Detectives probing the ‘tragic and unprecedented’ death of ice hockey star Adam Johnson say the investigation is still ‘ongoing’ and that they are now speaking to experts to find out how his throat was slit by an opponent’s skate. 

Nottingham Panthers star Mr Johnson died when his throat was slashed by Sheffield Steelers opponent Matt Petgrave’s skate blade as they collided, in an incident labelled a ‘freak accident’ by Mr Johnson’s team.

The 29-year-old briefly stood up, bleeding profusely on to the ice, before collapsing again during the game in Sheffield. He received immediate medical attention, with CPR performed on the ice, and was taken to hospital but could not be saved.

South Yorkshire Police said in an update today that detectives had reviewed footage and spoken with witnesses and experts, but ‘due to the complex nature of this tragic and unprecedented incident, it is likely the wider investigation will take some time’.

The force added: ‘Since Saturday, detectives have been carrying out a range of enquiries including reviewing footage, talking to witnesses and seeking the advice and support of highly specialised experts to seek to understand the circumstances surrounding what happened.

Adam Johnson (pictured) died in a ‘freak accident’ after his throat was cut by the rogue boot of Sheffield Steeler’s player Matt Petgrave on Saturday

Mr Petgrave had been tackling another player when his skate blade fatally wounded Mr Johnson during a game in Sheffield (pictured: Mr Petgrave)

Adam Johnson, seen seconds before the freak incident at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday

‘Our officers have now left the scene, however due to the complex nature of this tragic and unprecedented incident, it is likely the wider investigation will take some time.

‘We continue to encourage the public to avoid speculation, including on social media, while we continue our enquiries and will provide updates when appropriate. Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of all those affected.’

The statement comes as a legal expert today claimed the player who accidentally killed the American hockey star is ‘unlikely’ to face prosecution. 

University legal professor Nicola Lacey said it would be ‘very unlikely’ for Petgrave to be charged with manslaughter by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

As fans of both teams plan to hold vigils in Nottingham and Sheffield on Saturday:

• Adam Johnson’s aunt revealed his father was watching online in Minnesota;
• The player’s girlfriend paid tribute to her ‘sweet, sweet angel’ on Instagram;
• The opponent who accidentally slashed Johnson’s throat was trolled online;
• A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £12,000 for Johnson’s family;
• A team based in Oxford have made neck guards mandatory for all players.

Ms Lacey, a professor at the London School of Economics, told Newsweek: ‘From what I have read on the news, it seems very unlikely the CPS would prosecute.

Adam Johnson pictured in action for Nottingham Panthers earlier this season (file picture)

Matt Petgrave (file image) crashed into one of Johnson’s teammates in a collision which saw him lose balance before his leg lifted up and made contact with Johnson’s neck

Adam Johnson: From Frozen Four and the NHL to Nottingham

By Max Carter Keall

Adam Johnson, 29, was an American professional ice hockey player who was playing in England with the Nottingham Panthers this year.

Johnson was born on June 22, 1994 in Hibbing, Minnesota, a mining city in the north of the US.

He played ice hockey after high school, representing the Indiana Ice and Sioux City Musketeers at junior level, before heading to college to play with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bullldogs in the National Collegiate Hockey League.

Johnson impressed at the Bulldogs, grabbing an impressive 18 goals and tallying 37 points in 42 games to finish second in the club in both goals and points.

His brilliant overtime, power-play goal to defeat Boston University ensured the Bulldogs made it to the Frozen Four, the highest level of men’s collegiate hockey.

His success earned him a place at the prospect development camp of the NHL side the Pittsburgh Penguins, performing well enough to agree a two-year, entry-level contract in 2017.

In 2020 Johnson decided to move abroad, playing for Swedish side Malmo Redhawks, before returning to North America to ply his trade for Canadian side Ontario Reign.

However the forward’s time was not done in Europe, moving again to represent German DHL side Augsburger Panther in 2022 and then finally signing for Nottingham Panthers for the 2023-24 season.

‘For manslaughter you need either gross negligence – a really large departure from normal standards of care such as to justify criminal liability; or an unlawful and dangerous act – the latter only likely if for example there had been a pretty flagrant breach of the sport’s rules.

‘If it was really a ‘freak accident,’ neither of those tests would be met; and the CPS can only prosecute where there is a realistic chance of conviction.’

Her LSE colleague Jeremy Horder added that injuries ’caused in the course of an ordinary lawful sporting contest’ are within the definition of ‘ordinary contact’.

Footage showed how Petgrave crashed into one of Johnson’s teammates on Saturday in a collision which saw him lose balance before his leg lifted up and made contact with Johnson’s neck.

Video of the incident showed Johnson getting to his feet, with blood pouring on to the ice. He was helped by a referee and a teammate as he headed off the rink, but collapsed on to the ice.

The Steelers doctor and the Panthers physio then went straight onto the ice to help him and were joined by paramedics and two trauma nurses from the crowd.

After players formed a ring to shield Johnson being given treatment, screens were brought down on the ice but the medical team was seen performing CPR before Johnson was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Now, supporters have planned vigils this Saturday at both the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham and the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, where the incident happened.

Fans will gather at both sites at 8pm before a minute’s silence is held at 8.20pm, reported the Nottingham Post.

It comes after the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) said both teams’ games this weekend had been postponed – but the other eight sides will all play on Saturday and Sunday with ‘appropriate and fitting tributes’ to Johnson expected to take place.

The other eight teams in the league are Belfast Giants, Guildford Flames, Coventry Blaze, Dundee Stars, Cardiff Devils, Manchester Storm, Fife Flyers and Glasgow Clan. The EIHL added that scheduled for both today and tomorrow had been postponed.

The league said that coaches of those eight teams spoke with their players yesterday about what should happen next, and they ‘expressed their wish to return to playing Elite League fixtures this weekend’.

Adam Johnson and Ryan Wolfe, pictured in July 2022, had been due to become engaged 

The tribute posted by Ryan Wolfe, girlfriend of Nottingham Panthers star Adam Johnson

But the league added: ‘Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers will not return to the ice this weekend, and we would continue to ask everyone to support these clubs through what is an intensely difficult time.’

Calls for neck guards for ice hockey players 

The tragedy has prompted calls for professional players to wear neck guards – which is mandatory only for players aged under 20 in this country.

There have been two previous neck-slashing incidents in North America’s National Hockey League (NHL) – but in both incidents the players were saved by prompt treatment from medics.

In February new rules were introduced in England raising the age for mandatory neck guards from under 18 to under 20. But they do not need to be worn by professional adult players, who also use less protective helmets.

In 1989 goalie Clint Malarchuk suffered a similar neck injury during an NHL game in Buffalo, New York. His life was saved by the quick action of a former US Army combat medic who served in Vietnam. He gripped his neck and pinched the severed vein until doctors arrived and kneeled on his collarbone to reduce his breathing rate.

In 2008 Richard Zednik also suffered a neck wound from an opponent’s skate blade. He lost five pints of blood and was saved by quick medical treatment.

Meanwhile the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) will make it mandatory to wear a neck guard during ‘all on-ice activities’ from the start of 2024 in a change to regulations following Johnson’s death

to wear a neck guard during ‘all on-ice activities’ from the start of 2024 in a change to regulations following Johnson’s death

Under current rules, players in the UK do not have to play with neck guards once they turn 18.

The EIHA is the sport’s governing body in England and Wales, with almost 400 teams at junior and senior level below the EIHL, which is yet to comment on whether it will make neck guards mandatory.

The EIHA says it will also conduct a thorough review of safety equipment in the next 12 months including, but not limited to, the use of helmets, mouthguards/gumshields and facial protection, and the application of International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules.

A statement from the governing body last night read: ‘The EIHA makes a ‘strong recommendation’ that all players at all levels across English ice hockey use an approved ice hockey neck guard/protector whilst participating in all on-ice activities.

‘This ‘strong recommendation’ is in place until 31 December 2023, after which it will become a mandatory requirement.

‘It is not mandatory with immediate effect due to anticipated supply issues. This will be under constant review between now and mandatory implementation.

‘All protective equipment must be worn without alterations and as directed by the manufacturers’ specification.’

Adam Johnson is remembered before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last night

Before the Penguins game against the Anaheim Ducks last night, both teams joined together at centre ice for a tribute to Johnson, who appeared in 13 NHL games with the Penguins

Elsewhere, NIHL team Oxford City Stars, who have former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech on their roster, announced their players must wear neck guards at all times on the ice.

READ MORE Adam Johnson’s father was watching his son’s ice hockey game on livestream from Minnesota when horror unfolded – as his grieving aunt says ‘nobody should have to live through what we saw’

Shane Moore, director of hockey operations, said safety must be a priority, adding: ‘A life has tragically been taken too soon in a freak accident, and if wearing neck guards can prevent another devastating loss, then we want to ensure we have done everything within our power to protect our players.’

Sheffield City Council’s health and safety team are also assisting the police as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, the player’s girlfriend Ryan Wolfe paid tribute on Instagram, saying: ‘My sweet angel, I’ll miss you forever and love you always.’

And the player’s aunt Kari Johnson revealed yesterday that she and Johnson’s father Davey Johnson, who is her brother, were both watching online as tragedy unfolded at the Utilita Arena.

Fans have gathered at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena to pay tribute with flowers and cards.

Steelers fan Gary Hibbert was at the game and said: ‘I have come to pay my respects. It is heart-breaking.

‘My kids absolutely love ice hockey and they have both been absolutely heart-broken after Saturday’s game, as we all are.’

Speaking of the incident in which Minnesota-born former NHL player Johnson was injured, he said: ‘My initial thought was he had a stick to the face, as it happens.

‘Within two, three, four seconds we have seen the pool of blood.’

Mr Hibbert said Johnson had skated off for a moment after the collision before he collapsed and said he then shielded his son as best he could from the tragedy unfolding on the ice.

People lay flowers and tributes for Johnson outside Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena yesterday

Fans lay tributes at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Sunday after the death of Johnson 

An ambulance outside Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday evening after the freak accident

More tributes were left at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, with one card saying: ‘To a young man who came to Sheffield on a Saturday night to do his job and play for his team, left the arena fighting for his life, and didn’t return home with his team mates RIP Adam Johnson #47.’

READ MORE ‘I’ll miss you forever and love you always’: Adam Johnson’s girlfriend’s heartbreaking tribute to ice hockey star who died in ‘freak accident’ after proposing in the summer

Johnson’s death has reverberated around the hockey community, with moments of silence held around the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins adding ‘AJ 47’ decals to their helmets.

‘It’s an incredible tragedy,’ Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. ‘He was a great kid. It was a privilege to be his coach.’

Before the Penguins game against the Anaheim Ducks last night, both teams joined together at centre ice for a tribute to Johnson – a Minnesota native who appeared in 13 NHL games with the Penguins in 2019 and 2020.

A black and white photo of Johnson was displayed on the scoreboard and a white spotlight on centre ice. The video tribute included Johnson’s debut in Nashville and his first NHL goal in Minnesota.

Instead of a moment of silence, the Penguins asked to give one final cheer for Johnson. Fans applauded and players tapped their sticks around the centre circle.

Ontario Reign also paid tribute to their former player before the club’s American Hockey League game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday.

Johnson’s name was announced to the crowd as his number 49 jersey was placed on a chair in the middle of the ice by former Nottingham player Jacob Doty.

Ontario-based hockey manufacturer Bauer called for collaboration around the sport for increased awareness and a mandate on cut-resistant neck protection.

Players and staff observe a silence for Adam Johnson at Hillsborough in Sheffield on Sunday

A video tribute to Adam Johnson before an Edmonton Oilers match in Alberta on Sunday

‘Along with the larger hockey community, we mourn Adam’s tragic passing,’ chief executive Ed Kinnaly said in a statement. ‘We believe now is the time for the hockey community to collectively come together to take meaningful action in an urgent manner.’

READ MORE Adam Johnson: The freak accident which tragically killed the ice hockey star at the age of 29 has only happened TWICE before… and both players were fortunate to survive

Mr Kinnaly said Bauer was committed to educating parents and players on the importance of cut-resistant gear, work with professional athletes to get feedback on product design and collaborate with governing bodies such as USA Hockey and Hockey Canada and youth organizations to mandate and enforce neck protection.

Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie, who co-owns the Warroad Hockey equipment and apparel company named after his hometown in Minnesota, said he received roughly 100 texts from other players inquiring about cut-resistant materials and that the entire inventory sold out Sunday.

‘It’s just crazy, sad, and we don’t have anything left,’ Mr Oshie said after a practice session yesterday. ‘We’re thinking about his family first. We’ll try to get as many products out there as we can for people.’

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said today: ‘Our investigation into the death of a player following a Sheffield Steelers versus Nottingham Panthers game at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Saturday, October 28 remains ongoing.

‘Since Saturday, detectives have been carrying out a range of enquiries including reviewing footage, talking to witnesses and seeking the advice and support of highly specialised experts to seek to understand the circumstances surrounding what happened. We have also been working closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our investigation.

‘As with all unexpected and sudden deaths, it is standard practice for police to investigate the circumstances fully and feedback our findings to HM Coroner. Our officers have now left the scene, however due to the complex nature of this tragic and unprecedented incident, it is likely the wider investigation will take some time.

‘We continue to encourage the public to avoid speculation, including on social media, while we continue our enquiries and will provide updates when appropriate. Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of all those affected.’

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