No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player

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 died after suffering a neck injury from a skate during a collision with Sheffield Steelers' Matt Petgrave on 28 October.

The Crown Prosecution Service 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."

He said the police investigation had been "thorough" and the CPS had undertaken a "comprehensive review of all the evidence".

The death of Johnson, who was from Minnesota in the US, sparked an outpouring of grief across the world.

Johnson previously played in North America's National Hockey League (NHL), featuring 13 times for Pittsburgh Penguins.

He made the move to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the 2020-21 season, before spells with the Ontario Reign and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League.

Johnson played for Augsburger Panther in Germany before switching to the Nottingham Panthers in August.

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