On October 28, 2023, a horrific incident occurred during a game between the Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Adam Johnson, a 29-year-old American forward who played for the Panthers, collided with Matt Petgrave, a 31-year-old Canadian defenseman who played for the Steelers. Petgrave’s skate accidentally slashed Johnson’s neck, causing a fatal injury. Johnson was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident shocked the hockey world, as Johnson was a former NHL player who had played for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2018 and 2020. He had joined the Panthers in 2021 and was one of their top scorers. He was also engaged to his fiancee Ryan Wolfe, who was at the game when the tragedy happened.
On the other hand, Petgrave was a journeyman enforcer who had played in various leagues worldwide, including the Czech Republic, Germany, and France. He was known for his physical style of play and had led the EIHL in penalty minutes in the previous season. He had signed with the Steelers in 2023 and was playing his first season with them.
A controversial hit or a freak accident?
The collision between Johnson and Petgrave was captured on a low-quality video stream, which raised questions about the intent of the latter. Some viewers claimed that Petgrave deliberately kicked Johnson with his skate, while others argued that an unintentional clip caused Petgrave to somersault and hit Johnson with his leg.
The Panthers issued a statement calling the incident a “freak accident” and expressing their condolences to Johnson’s family and friends. They also asked for respect and privacy for everyone involved. The Steelers also released a statement expressing their sadness and sympathy for Johnson’s loved ones. They said Petgrave was “devastated” by what happened and had no malicious intent.
However, some hockey fans and media personalities were not convinced by the statements and accused Petgrave of being a “dirty player” who “murdered” Johnson. They pointed out that Petgrave had a history of violent and reckless behavior on the ice, and that he had made an unorthodox and dangerous move that resulted in Johnson’s death. They also called for Petgrave to be banned from hockey and face criminal charges.
A police investigation and a legal battle
The South Yorkshire Police announced that they had arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter over Johnson’s death. They did not reveal the identity of the suspect, but it was widely speculated that it was Petgrave. They said that they were conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident and that they were appealing for witnesses and evidence.
The arrest sparked a debate over whether Petgrave should be held criminally responsible for Johnson’s death. Some legal experts argued that Petgrave could be charged with manslaughter if it was proven that he had acted with gross negligence or recklessness that caused Johnson’s death. They said that Petgrave had a duty of care to avoid harming other players and that he had breached that duty by kicking Johnson with his skate.
Other legal experts contended that Petgrave could not be charged with manslaughter because he had not intended to kill or harm Johnson. They said that Petgrave had acted in the heat of the moment and that the incident was a tragic accident that could not have been foreseen or prevented. They said that Petgrave had consented to the risk of injury inherent in hockey and that he had not exceeded the bounds of fair play.
A show of support and solidarity
Despite the controversy and the legal battle, some hockey players and fans showed their support and solidarity for both Johnson and Petgrave. They said that they understood the nature of the sport and that they did not blame Petgrave for what happened. They said that Petgrave was also a victim of the incident and that he needed compassion and help.
Westin Michaud, a teammate of Johnson’s, wrote on social media that he and his team stood with Petgrave and that they did not think that he had any ill will towards Johnson. He said that he was at ice level on the bench when the incident happened and that he saw that it was an unintentional clip that caused Petgrave to somersault. He said that anyone who suggested otherwise was mistaken and that he urged people to stop spreading hate to someone who needed support.
Sean Avery, a former NHL player and a friend of Johnson’s, also defended Petgrave in an interview with Fox News. He said that he did not think that Petgrave had woken up and decided to murder someone that day. He said that Petgrave had made a move that was very unorthodox and that he was trying to make contact of some sort, but that he did not intend to kill Johnson. He said that he felt sorry for both Johnson and Petgrave and that he hoped that the hockey community would come together and not tear each other apart.
