No criminal charges will be brought against professional ice hockey player Matt Petgrave, who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of Adam Johnson during a match in October 2023, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Johnson, 29, who played for the Nottingham Panthers, died after suffering a fatal neck injury caused by a skate blade during a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenceman Petgrave. The incident occurred during a Challenge Cup fixture at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had worked closely with South Yorkshire Police throughout the investigation and concluded that there was no realistic prospect of a conviction.
“This was a shocking and deeply upsetting incident,” said Michael Quinn, deputy chief crown prosecutor.
“The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
Petgrave, a Canadian national, had denied any wrongdoing, describing the collision as a “tragic accident.” He spent 17 months on police bail during the lengthy investigation, which involved seven re-bailings by South Yorkshire Police.
Johnson’s death prompted an outpouring of grief across the global ice hockey community.
A former NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Johnson also had spells in the Swedish Hockey League, the American Hockey League, and Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga before joining the Nottingham Panthers in August 2023.
Tributes flowed following his death, with the Pittsburgh Penguins holding a minute’s silence and the Nottingham Panthers retiring his number 47 jersey during an emotional ceremony in December 2024.
Family members, including Johnson’s partner Ryan Wolfe and aunt Kari Johnson, paid tribute to him as a “humble, modest and down-to-earth” individual.
The tragedy also reignited debate over player safety. The Sheffield coroner issued a prevention of future deaths report, recommending the mandatory use of neck guards in ice hockey.
The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) has made neck protection compulsory from 2024 onwards, although the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) has only “strongly encouraged” its use without making it mandatory.
The BBC reported that Johnson was not wearing a neck guard at the time of the collision.