UK prosecutors have decided not to press charges in the death of American ice hockey player Adam Johnson, who died in October 2023 after fellow player Matt Petgrave’s skate blade cut his neck during a game. The tragic incident sparked a global debate about player safety, leading to new safety regulations, including mandatory neck guards in some leagues and strong recommendations in others.
Johnson, a former NHL player with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was honored by the Nottingham Panthers, who retired his jersey. According to the New York Post, UK prosecutors confirmed that no charges will be brought in the tragic death of Johnson, a forward for the Nottingham Panthers, who was fatally injured in a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave on October 28, 2023, and later pronounced dead.
In a statement, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn shared that there would not be a prosecution as there was not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense. The fatal on-ice collision occurred when Johnson carried the puck into the Sheffield Steelers’ defensive zone during a game, and Petgrave’s skate struck him in the neck.
Despite the scrutiny, Petgrave received support from within the hockey community, including from Panthers defenseman Victor Björkung, who had passed the puck to Johnson just before the collision. Björkung defended Petgrave, stating there “isn’t a chance that it’s deliberate.” The emotional toll of witnessing the incident led Björkung to leave the team.
Hailing from Hibbing, Minnesota, Johnson began his professional hockey journey in the American Hockey League before making it to the NHL, where he played 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His career also took him overseas, with stints in Sweden and Germany, before signing with the Nottingham Panthers for the 2023–24 season.
In tribute, the Nottingham Panthers officially retired Johnson’s number 47 jersey during a ceremony to honor his legacy on and off the ice. Panthers CEO Omar Pacha praised Johnson not just for his skill as an athlete, but for his character, calling him “a quiet, positive leader, a committed player that guys loved, and a huge, calming presence in the locker room.”
In response to Johnson’s tragic death, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) introduced a new safety regulation mandating the use of neck guards across all levels of competition, including elite tournaments like the Winter Olympics and World Championships. Sheffield coroner Tanyka Rawden urged the compulsory use of neck guards in ice hockey to prevent similar fatalities, leading to mandatory neck guards for all players in the UK.
However, the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in the UK, the highest-level professional league, opted to “strongly encourage” the use of neck protection among players and officials instead of mandating it. The legacy of Adam Johnson’s tragic death continues to influence safety measures in ice hockey leagues globally, emphasizing the importance of player safety on the ice.