Matt Petgrave, the man who slashed the throat of ice hockey player Adam Johnson in October 2023, will not face any charges, UK prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
Petgrave was arrested in November 2023 on suspicion of manslaughter and was immediately released on bail.
Former NHL player Adam Johnson, 29, died from a massive injury to his neck during a game in 2023.
The former Pittsburgh Penguins player took a skate blade to the neck. He was playing in England for the Nottingham Panthers when an opposing player’s blade cut his neck during a ‘collision.’
Video of the incident shows Matt Petgrave appear to intentionally kick his skate toward Johnson’s throat.
The skate blade sliced Johnson’s throat. He later died at the hospital.
Watch (warning: graphic):
A year and a half after the killing of ice hockey player Adam Johnson, Matt Petgrave has still not been brought to justice. pic.twitter.com/cbsUV5eokr
— Way of the World (@wayotworld) March 29, 2025
On Tuesday, Michael Quinn, the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said his office concluded that there was no real prospect of conviction for a criminal offense.
“Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson,” Michael Quinn said, according to the BBC.
The BBC reported:
No criminal charges will be brought against a professional ice hockey player arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of Adam Johnson.
The Nottingham Panthers player, 29, died after suffering a neck injury from a skate during a collision with Sheffield Steelers’ Matt Petgrave on 28 October 2023.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it worked with South Yorkshire Police to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought.
“We have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence and so there will not be a prosecution,” Michael Quinn, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said.
Mr Quinn added: “This was a shocking and deeply upsetting incident.
“The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved.
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
