“We have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense,” the Crown Prosecution Service said
- The Crown Prosecution Service said it will not “bring criminal charges against a professional ice hockey player” involved in the death of Adam Johnson
- Johnson died in October 2023 after sustaining a neck injury following a collision with opposing team player Matt Petgrave
- The CPS noted in a statement that there was “not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense”
No criminal charges will be brought against the professional ice hockey player involved in the “freak accident” that killed fellow player Adam Johnson, according to authorities.
The Crown Prosecution Service, which is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in the U.K., said in a press release that it will not “bring criminal charges against a professional ice hockey player” involved in the death of Johnson, 29, which took place in October 2023 during a game in England.
Johnson suffered a neck injury from opposing team player Matt Petgrave’s skates following a collision during the Challenge Cup match between his team, the Nottingham Panthers, and British ice hockey club Sheffield Steelers, according to reports from the BBC, Sky News and ESPN.
The hockey player, who previously played for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, was treated on the ice before being transported to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Johnson’s team announced his death on social media writing on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the player died “following a freak accident” during a game against the Sheffield Steelers.
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Two weeks after the incident, which took place on Oct. 28, 2023, South Yorkshire Police took a man into custody in connection with the incident, according to ESPN. Though police did not name the man, Petgrave admitted that he was the subject of a manslaughter investigation in a crowdfunding appeal for legal fees.
Petgrave, a native of Canada, spent 17 months on bail after his arrest in November 2023 and was re-bailed seven times amid the police investigation, according to the BBC. He called the incident a “tragic accident” in his appeal.
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“This was a shocking and deeply upsetting incident. The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved,” Michael Quinn, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said in a statement included in the press release.
“Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution,” he continued. “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
Johnson’s death prompted a call for an increase in safety measures in the sport, which eventually led the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) — which governs the sport in the U.K. below the Elite League — to require all players in England to wear neck guards from 2024.
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“It is unacceptable for any player to lose their life while playing sport. Our responsibility is not only to avert the recurrence of such a heart-breaking accident, but also to pre-emptively address other foreseeable incidents in the future,” the EIHA said in a statement at the time.
However, the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), which governs the U.K.’s top hockey division, noted, per BBC, that it would not require neck guards, but “strongly encourage” players to wear them in light of Johnson’s death.
Johnson, a University of Minnesota Duluth alum, played for the Penguins during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, appearing in 13 games during his NHL career. The player also spent time in the American Hockey League, as well as overseas in Sweden, Germany, and most recently in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
