A man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson in Sheffield has been re-bailed.
During the Challenge Cup game between the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers at Sheffield Utility Arena on 28 October last year, Adam Johnson was seriously injured.
The 29-year-old American was seriously injured during a game when his neck was cut by the skate blade of another player.
A post-mortem examination confirmed he died as a result of a neck injury.
Mr Johnson’s death shocked the ice hockey world, especially as the incident and the desperate attempts made to save his life as he lay on the ice was witnessed by 8,000 fans at the arena.
Following the tragedy, the English Ice Hockey Association have said that 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.
Therefore they have said it will not make the use of neck guards mandatory but would “strongly encourage” players and officials to wear them.
An inquest into Mr Johnson’s death was opened and adjourned on 3 November, but Sheffield’s senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, has already called on the sport’s governing bodies to take action.
Ms Rawden’s office said: “Since the opening of the inquest on November 3 2023, detectives from South Yorkshire Police have arrested and questioned a man on suspicion of manslaughter.”
A man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter on 14 November and later bailed. Today (Friday 9 February 2024), he has been re-bailed until 25 April 2024.
South Yorkshire Police are continuing their investigation and say their thoughts remain with Adam’s family at this time.