Man arrested after death of former NHLer won't face charges

The Associated Press

· Posted: Apr 29, 2025 8:27 AM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago

A antheral arrested connected suspicion of manslaughter pursuing the decease of crystal hockey subordinate Adam Johnson has been told helium volition not look immoderate charges, British prosecutors said Tuesday.

Johnson played for the Nottingham Panthers and died soon aft his cervix had been sliced successful a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenceman Matt Petgrave during a crippled connected Oct. 28, 2023.

A antheral was arrested 2 weeks aboriginal and though South Yorkshire Police has not publically identified him, Petgrave himself said successful a crowdfunding entreaty for ineligible fees that he's the taxable of a constabulary investigation.

On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided it would not bring transgression charges against the antheral arrested pursuing what it described arsenic "a shocking and profoundly upsetting incident."

WATCH | Former NHL subordinate killed successful hockey mishap successful England:

"The CPS and South Yorkshire Police person worked intimately unneurotic to find whether immoderate transgression charges should beryllium brought against the different crystal hockey subordinate involved," Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn said.

"Following a thorough constabulary probe and a broad reappraisal of each the grounds by the CPS, we person concluded that determination is not a realistic imaginable of condemnation for immoderate transgression offence and truthful determination volition not beryllium a prosecution. Our thoughts stay with the household and friends of Adam Johnson."

After his arrest, Petgrave had been re-bailed respective times portion the probe took place.

Johnson had skated with the puck into Sheffield's antiaircraft portion erstwhile Petgrave collided with different Panthers subordinate nearby. Petgrave's near skate elevated arsenic helium began to autumn and the leaf deed Johnson successful the neck.

The autochthonal of Hibbing, Minnesota, was pronounced dormant astatine a adjacent hospital. The decease of the 29-year-old erstwhile Pittsburgh Penguins subordinate sparked statement crossed the athletics astir improving information for players.

Petgrave, a 32-year-old Canadian, had enactment from immoderate of Johnson's teammates. Victor Björkung had told a Swedish paper determination "isn't a accidental that it's deliberate." Björkung  had played the walk to Johnson and said helium was traumatized by what helium saw. He near the squad arsenic a result.

WATCH | Man arrested aft hockey player's cervix slashed during game:

Johnson was successful his archetypal play astatine Nottingham — 1 of the "import" players successful the Elite Ice Hockey League — aft stints successful Germany and a fistful of games for the Penguins successful the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

Johnson was surviving with fiancee Ryan Wolfe and studying astatine Loughborough Business School.

The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the athletics beneath the Elite League, reacted to Johnson's decease by requiring each players successful England to deterioration cervix guards from the commencement of 2024.