Fans of the late hockey player Adam Johnson have thrown their support behind the player he collided with during a game that led to his untimely death.
Johnson, 29, a former NHL forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, died after receiving a cut to his neck, seemingly from the blade of player Matthew Petgrave during a game in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
The incident occurred on Saturday between Johnson’s Nottingham Panthers and Petgrave’s Sheffield Steelers.
Jeff Botari/Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America
Petgrave came under intense scrutiny by social media users, with many sharing footage of the horrific incident and analyzing it to determine whether it was deliberate or not.
However, hockey fans condemned any speculation around the incident labeling it a “freak accident” and said they supported Petgrave during what must be a difficult time for him.
“We stand with Matthew Petgrave in this tragic period of time for him,” an EIHL fan account posted on X, formerly Twitter, in a post that has been viewed more than 193,000 times.
“As our post reporting the devastating loss of Adam Johnson gained a reach of accounts we have never experienced and likely never will again. It has come with it being used to share opinions of Matthew Petgrave that we greatly condemn.
“If you blame the player for a freak accident do not voice that opinion on our account nor use our announcement to speak about your disgusting agenda.”
Newsweek has contacted the Sheffield Steelers by email for comment.
Fans’ support of Petgrave comes after some wondered whether he would face criminal charges over the incident.
But criminal law experts told Newsweek that was highly unlikely.
“Essentially, the position is that injuries caused in the course of an ordinary lawful sporting contest are within the bounds of ‘ordinary contact’ and hence do not give rise to liability, even when, for example, they contravene a rule of the game by amounting to a foul or violent conduct,” said Jeremy Horder, professor of criminal law at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
“However, very extreme recklessness, for example wearing deliberately extra sharpened boots, or something, or a deliberately inflicted injury of a serious kind might fall outside this exception, and fall to be dealt with like any other assault leading to a death. I am not aware that anything of this nature was involved in this case.”
Nicola Lacey, also a professor of Law at LSE, agreed criminal charges against Petgrave were unlikely to go ahead.
“From what I have read on the news, it seems very unlikely the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) would prosecute: for manslaughter you need either gross negligence—a really large departure from normal standards of care such as to justify criminal liability; or an unlawful and dangerous act—the latter only likely if for example there had be a pretty flagrant breach of the sport’s rules,” she told Newsweek.
“If it was really a ‘freak accident,’ neither of those tests would be met; and the CPS can only prosecute where there is a realistic chance of conviction,” she said.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.