Death of Hockey Player Adam Johnson Sends Shock Through Hockey Community 

In Nottingham, England, the Nottingham Panthers, a professional ice hockey team, recently played in a match against the Sheffield Steelers. Player Adam Johnson was fatally wounded by the blade of an opponent’s ice skate. On October 28th, Johnson was out on the ice when opponent Matt Petgrave negligently swung his leg up in the air, slicing through Johnson’s neck. Johnson was transported to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. This tragic loss begs the question, what will happen to Petgrave?

According to Dan Sheldon of The Athletic, the South Yorkshire Police made an arrest on Tuesday, November 14th, on suspicion of manslaughter. In England, suspects can be held up to 24 hours before the police have to either charge or release the suspect. In the case of Adam Johnson, Petgrave was released on bail. 

However, it has to be noted that Petgrave does have a record of negligence, or intended violence on the ice. According to the New York Post, “Petgrave [used] a similar unorthodox move in 2009, where he threw his left elbow and right trailing leg as he was passing a player on the other team. The player who Petgrave hit went spiraling in the air, landing on his head and neck area.” Petgrave also has a history of acting rough and negligent on the ice, as well as struggling to compose himself, a prime example being