Who accidentally killed Adam Johnson?
Matt Petgrave, a defensive player for the Sheffield Steelers, was who accidentally killed Adam Johnson during an on-ice collision. He has yet to give a statement himself, but according to a source quoted by the Daily Mail, Petgrave was “absolutely distraught” by the events that unfolded, and supporters rallied around him after he received “vile messages online” from “heartless trolls”.
Tina Taylor, a Panthers supporter, told the publication: “It was a one-in-a-million chance occurrence and will probably never happen again. It was a complete freak accident.” She continued: “He was absolutely distraught by the death of an opponent, but it was a tragic accident and he was not to blame. The awful trolling must stop.”
17 days after Johnson’s death, Yorkshire Police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, though they did not name the suspect. “Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive enquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” SYP detective chief superintendent Becs Horsfall said of the arrest in a statement.
“We have been speaking to highly specialised experts in their field to assist in our enquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.” Police also revealed that “a post-mortem examination confirmed Johnson died as a result of a fatal neck injury.”
“Adam’s death has sent shockwaves through many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to ice hockey fans across the world,” Horsfall said. “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.”
Indeed, Johnson’s teammate Westin Michaud tweeted: “I need to address something about the accident. We wholeheartedly stand with Matt Petgrave. The hate that Matt is receiving is terrible and completely uncalled for. I was at ice level on the bench closest to the accident, I saw both players moving fast,” he wrote. “The unintentional clip of the Panther player’s leg by the Sheffield player caused the somersault. It’s clear to me his actions were unintentional and anyone suggesting otherwise is mistaken. Let’s come together and not spread unwarranted hate to someone who needs are support.”
Ex-Canadian hockey star Sean Avery speculated on Fox News: “Did this kid make a move that was very unorthodox? Do I think he was trying to make contact of some sort? Absolutely… do I think he woke up and said I’m going to murder somebody today? No.”
Nonetheless, police are investigating (standard procedure) into the death of Johnson. “We were called at 8.25pm on Saturday 28 October to reports that a player had been seriously injured during a Sheffield Steelers versus Nottingham Panthers game at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. Officers attended the scene alongside other emergency services and one man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased at hospital,” the Sheffield police said in a statement.
“Our officers remain at the scene carrying out enquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing. We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our enquiries.”
The Elite Ice Hockey League confirmed Johnson’s death in a press release. “The Elite Ice Hockey League is heartbroken to confirm that Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson sadly passed away following a freak accident in Saturday’s game between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers. In light of this deeply upsetting news, the Elite League has postponed all games scheduled to take place on Sunday 29 October 2023,” the statement read from the Elite Ice Hockey League.
“The thoughts of everyone connected with the EIHL are with Adam’s family, friends and team mates at this incredibly sad and difficult time. We would also ask everyone to respect the privacy of Adam’s family at this time. Many of us will have found Saturday’s events very distressing.
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