Ex-NHL hockey player Adam Johnson, 29, passed away after suffering a slash to his neck from an opposing player’s skate in an Elite Ice Hockey League game on October 28, 2023.

Upwards of 8,000 fans were in attendance when the Nottingham Panthers took on the Sheffield Steelers. In the second period of the game, tragedy struck when the left skate of Steelers defenseman Matt Petgrave cut Johnson’s throat during a collision.

According to The Associated Press, video of the incident showed Johnson skating with the puck toward the Steelers’ net. Petgrave skated toward Johnson and collided with another Panthers player; Petgrave’s left skate kicked up as he began to fall, and the blade hit Johnson in the neck.

Both players landed on the ice, and Petgrave immediately got to his feet. Johnson rose more slowly and was helped off the ice, with his jersey covered in blood. He later died at a local hospital.

Two weeks after the incident, South Yorkshire Police arrested Petgrave after an investigation into Johnson’s death. Petgrave was arrested on charges of manslaughter and was taken into custody; however, he was released just a day later.

“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” South Yorkshire Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said. “We have been speaking to highly specialized experts in their field to assist in our inquiries and continue to work closely with the health and safety department at Sheffield City Council, which is supporting our ongoing investigation.”

Since the incident, several different leagues across the sport have been examining their safety measures. Two days after Johnson’s death, the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) announced that it would make neckguards mandatory starting in 2024. This will be part one of a three-step plan imposed by the EIHA.

At the NHL level, a mandate to wear neck guards or other protection would have to be approved by the players, so nothing has changed yet. However, some players have started wearing neck protection in games.

NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Rod Pasma addressed the league’s managers on Tuesday about what options are available to players looking to upgrade their gear in light of Johnson’s death.

“As it sits here today, there’s plenty of options for the players to wear at any category, whether it be the neck, the wrist, socks, patches…” Pasma said. “So, I think that [unknown] element of cut protection has disappeared, meaning if you think something’s too hot [to wear], if you think it’s too heavy, there are options for you to look at that’ll fix those issues.”

The league says that while there are already several neck protection options, they will continue to add more. At this time, the NHL does not plan to impose a mandate that will force players to wear neck protection.

The NHL held a moment of silence in games across the league in the wake of Johnson’s passing.