The man involved in the play that led to the death of hockey player Adam Johnson has spoken out about the incident for the first time.
On 28 October 2023, Adam Johnson of the Nottingham Panthers suffered a freak incident that shook the sporting world, passing away in the middle of a game against the Sheffield Steelers.
The professional hockey player was slashed in the neck in the high-stakes derby game, with over 8,000 fans looking on at the Utilita Arena.
They would soon be asked to leave the stadium in Sheffield as authorities called for medical help.
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Following the accident, the game was stopped in the 35th minute as the 29-year-old was attended to by health professionals.
The American was rushed to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, where we sadly died of his injuries.
The Nottingham Panthers said in a statement: "Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him. The club will dearly miss him and will never ever forget him.
"The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam's family, his partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time.
"Everyone at the club including players, staff, management, and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam's passing."
The man involved in the play leading to the death of Johnson has now spoken about the incident through a crowdfunding request.
Hockey player and former Sheffield Steels defenseman Matt Petgrave took to CrowdJustice for assistance with his legal costs, over a year after the incident.
He has raised over £10,000 since launching the drive.
“On October 28, 2023, I was involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the passing of fellow ice hockey player Adam Johnson,” Petgrave said in a statement.
“There is an ongoing police investigation and the legal process has been long and challenging,
“I am seeking help to cover some of my legal costs whilst I am subject to police bail, as well as additional costs if the matter proceeds to criminal court. Any remaining funds will be donated to initiatives that promote safety in hockey, via a CrowdJustice campaign in-line with their unused funds policy,” he wrote.
The statement further read: “Initially, I had the benefit of insurance cover, but through no fault of my own, this has been halted.
“Additionally, the time and costs involved in the legal investigation and potential court proceedings are difficult for me to cover on a privately funded basis.”
He added: “This is especially challenging because my UK visa has expired, preventing me from working as a professional ice hockey player while I continue to need legal assistance.”
CrowdJustice stated that it conducts 'rigorous checks' before funding drives can be launched.
All funds raised go straight to a designated lawyer’s account for that client.
It stated: “We can confirm these checks have been completed for the Matthew Petgrave campaign. Raised funds will be sent directly to the instructed lawyers.”
A man currently remains under investigation by police after being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, though South Yorkshire Police have re-bailed him several times, most recently in early November.
So far, no criminal charges have been filed.
The person's identity has not yet been revealed by authorities.
Joshua Nair