Police issue update in case of ice hockey player who died after being slashed in throat during game
Police have issued an update regarding the death of ice hockey star, Adam Johnson.
Johnson, 29, from Minnesota, was killed in October last year when he collided with another player in a tragic ice hockey accident.
The Nottingham Panthers star - who was competing in Sheffield at the time - was fatally injured during the game.
The American hockey player suffered a cut to the neck during the match, with more than 8,000 fans watching from the sidelines.
Advert
According to witnesses, players from both the Sheffield and Nottingham teams quickly formed a ring around Johnson after he suffered the fatal injury.
He was rushed to hospital but sadly passed away.
Following the incident, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Now, South Yorkshire Police have provided an update on the case. Authorities have confirmed the man arrested has been re-bailed until 14 May.
A spokeswoman said: "A man who is under investigation following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson in Sheffield has been re-bailed.
"Adam, aged 29, was fatally injured during a game between the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers on 28 October last year.
"He was sadly later pronounced dead in hospital, and a post mortem confirmed he died as a result of a neck injury.
"A man was arrested on 14 November last year on suspicion of manslaughter and later bailed. He has been further re-bailed until Tuesday 14 May 2024.
"Our thoughts remain with Adam’s loved ones as our investigation continues."
Adam's partner Ryan Wolfe was part of the 8,000 plus crowd at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
Speaking at the Memorial Building Arena in Minnesota after the incident, she said: "There's so many things I could say about Adam and if I had the time I would talk about him for hours, but instead I wanted to write him a letter similar to something I would've written him for our wedding day.
"I want you to know how much I love you and adore you. You have been so amazingly supportive and kind to me since the day we met and I couldn't be more grateful for it.
"I always thought that maybe if I was lucky enough after a lifetime together I might start to be more like you.
"You're such a special person, you had the best sense of humour, the biggest heart, the quickest wit and the kindest soul."
As a result of the incident, the coroner involved with the case called on ice hockey's governing body to introduce more neck protection for players.
Sheffield senior coroner Tanyka Rawden issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) about using neck guards in the sport.
Rawden said she was 'sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn'.
The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) has said that neck guards will become mandatory from 2024 onwards, but it cannot control the Elite Ice Hockey League where the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete.
The league said it would not be making neck guards mandatory but would 'strongly encourage' players to wear them.
Lucy Devine