No Criminal Charges in UK Hockey Fatality

The man who was “arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been told that he will not face any charges” according to British prosecutors.^[1]

Adam Johnson tragically died during a game on October 28^th, 2023 after “his neck had been sliced in a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave.”^[2]

The United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (“CPS”) “worked with South Yorkshire Police to determine whether criminal charges would be brought against an unnamed professional hockey player.”^[3]

Deputy chief crown prosecutor Michael Quinn said that “there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence and so there will not be a prosecution.”^[4]

Petgrave was arrested two weeks after the incident and “said in a crowdfunding appeal for legal fees that he [was] the subject of a police investigation.”^[5]

Petgrave was said to be “absolutely distraught” about the incident and was “heavily trolled on social media.”^[6] Some former NHL players even accused Petgrave of purposefully trying to injure Johnson. Chris Therien played 11 seasons in the NHL and said, “I was literally appealed and sickened by what I saw. It looked intentional. It was a kung fu kick. My eyes are not lying, tell me I’m wrong.”^[7]

Marc Methot, another former NHL player, said “I refuse to believe the defender targeted that area on purpose, but I do think it was an incredibly reckless attempt at disrupting Johnson’s path into the middle ice.”^[8]

Following the incident, the International Ice Hockey Federation (“IIHF”) mandated neck guards be worn at all levels.^[9] The IIHF “said that it has taken the decision ‘on reccomendation from its Medical Committee.’”^[10]

Johnson’s death has resulted in a spike in neck guard sales and “a national debate over whether there needs to be uniform standards and mandates for neck guards and other safety equipment when it comes to youth hockey.”^[11]

As of August 1, 2024, USA Hockey requires “the use of neck laceration protection . . . for all players in all age classifications, except adults, in games and practices – as well as for on-ice officials under the age of 18.”^[12]

While Petgrave will not face criminal charges, the concern over neck protection at all levels of hockey remains high.

Buffalo Sabres fans are all too familiar with this issue, having seen similar incidents with Clint Malarchuk in 1989^[13]and Richard Zednick in 2008.^[14]

^[1] https://apnews.com/article/adam-johnson-hockey-death-petgrave-ac24f4993af3f63040e8c8752f86292d

^[2] Id.

^[3] https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/29/sport/adam-johnson-hockey-death-no-charges-spt-intl

^[4] Id.

^[5] https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/44051065/matt-petgrave-re-bailed-investigation-death-adam-johnson

^[6] https://www.newsweek.com/matt-petgrave-kick-looked-intentional-chris-therien-1839525

^[7] Id.

^[8] Id.

^[9] https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/05/sport/iihf-neck-guards-adam-johnson-death-spt-intl/index.html

^[10] Id.

^[11] https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/death-of-adam-johnson-sparks-renewed-interest-in-guard-mandates-for-youth-hockey

^[12] Id.