A man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to the death of former NHL player Adam Johnson has been granted an extension on his bail until April, according to the Daily Mail. Johnson, who was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in the EIHL at the time, tragically passed away after being struck in the neck by a skate worn by Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave during a game on October 28. The identity of the arrested individual has not been officially disclosed by the police. The South Yorkshire Police released a statement confirming the extension of bail and emphasizing that the investigation is still ongoing. They expressed their condolences to Johnson’s family and promised to provide any updates on the investigation on their official website.
The senior coroner in Sheffield, Tanyka Rawden, has temporarily halted the inquiry into Johnson’s death until later this summer. The incident shocked the hockey community and sparked a debate about the necessity of neck protection for players. In response, the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) mandated the use of neck protectors for players, although this ruling does not apply to the EIHL. In the United States, USA Hockey has announced that players under the age of 18 will be required to wear neckguards starting in August. Johnson, who played college hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, had a career primarily in the American Hockey League, with brief appearances for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
According to the Source outkick.com