Police update on arrest in connection with death of ice hockey player

Adam Johnson’s death was witnessed by thousands of fans in Sheffield

Adam Johnson’s team-mates and fans pay tribute to former ice hockey star (PA/Nottingham Panthers)

A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been rebailed, police said on Friday.

Mr Johnson died on October 28 last year after being hit in the neck by an opposition player’s skate during a match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

The 29-year-old American, who was playing for Nottingham Panthers against Sheffield Steelers, died in hospital.

Mr Johnson’s death shocked the ice hockey world, especially as the incident was witnessed by thousands of fans at the arena in Sheffield.

A man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in November and then bailed by South Yorkshire Police.

On Friday, the force said in a statement: “A man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson in Sheffield has been rebailed.

“Adam, aged 29, was seriously injured during a game between the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers on October 28 last year.

“He was sadly later pronounced deceased in hospital. A post-mortem examination confirmed he died as a result of a neck injury.

Our investigation is ongoing and our thoughts remain with Adam’s family at this time

South Yorkshire Police statement

“On November 14, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later bailed. Today, he has been rebailed until April 25 2024.”

The statement added: “Our investigation is ongoing and our thoughts remain with Adam’s family at this time. If there is any update on the progress of the investigation ahead of the new bail expiration date, this will be issued proactively on the South Yorkshire Police website.”

Last month, Sheffield’s senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, suspended her investigation while the police inquiry took its course.

Tributes to Adam Johnson (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Despite the inquest opening in November being very brief, it emerged later that Ms Rawden had issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) about the use of neck guards in the sport.

In the report, the coroner said she is “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn”, with the bodies given 56 days to say what action has been taken – or why action has not been taken.

The EIHA said neck guards will become mandatory from 2024 but the Elite League, in which the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, is not under its control.

The Elite Ice Hockey League said it will not make the use of neck guards mandatory but would “strongly encourage” players and officials to wear them.