Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Adam Johnson – seen here playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 – died last month after suffering a cut neck during a game in England.
CNN –
A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson last month, South Yorkshire Police said in a statement on Tuesday.
Johnson died after suffering a cut to his neck during the Nottingham Panthers’ game against the Sheffield Steelers in England on October 28.
A Sheffield coroner’s report stated that the 29-year-old “suffered a cut to his neck from another player’s skate” and later died in hospital as a result of the injury.
“Our investigation was launched immediately after this tragedy and we have since carried out extensive investigations to piece together the events that led to Adam’s death in these unprecedented circumstances,” Detective Chief Inspector Becs Horsfall said in a police statement.
“We have spoken to highly specialized experts in their field to support our investigations and continue to work closely with Sheffield City Council’s Health and Safety Department who are supporting our ongoing investigations.”
The police statement goes on to say that the arrested man remains in custody.
After Johnson’s death, which the Panthers described in a opinion When an “unusual accident” occurred on October 29, increased attention was paid to the safety of ice hockey players, particularly to the question of whether neck protection should be worn more often.
“Adam’s death has sent shockwaves across many communities, from our local residents here in Sheffield to hockey fans around the world,” Horsfall said.
Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, Johnson began his professional career in the American Hockey League before moving up to the National Hockey League (NHL).
He appeared in 13 games over two years for the Pittsburgh Penguins and also played in Sweden and Germany before joining the Panthers for the 2023-24 season.
In an online obituary, Johnson’s family remembered him as a “thoughtful, patient and truly authentic” person who “took joy in the small, everyday things.”
Members of the hockey community around the world have paid tribute to the striker, including in the city of Nottingham, where fans laid flowers outside the Motorpoint Arena.
Police said Tuesday that officers are supporting Johnson’s family while the investigation into his death continues.