The world of hockey is in mourning following the tragic death of Adam Johnson, a player for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL). The incident occurred during a game when Matt Petgrave, an opposing player, lost his balance during a collision and his skate blade made contact with Johnson’s neck. This unfortunate event has sparked a debate about player safety and the nature of the sport.
Johnson, who was only 29 years old, was engaged to his girlfriend Ryan Wolfe. Following the incident, he managed to stand up briefly before collapsing on the ice due to profuse bleeding. Despite immediate medical attention and CPR being performed on the ice, Johnson could not be saved. His death has left the hockey community in shock and sorrow.
Former NHL player Sean Avery weighs in on the tragic incident involving Adam Johnson's death. While suggesting intent behind the kick from Matt Petgrave, he stops short of calling it 'homicide.'pic.twitter.com/8omhUxdShw
— WhoIsThisMan (@WIsthisman) October 31, 2023
Former Canadian hockey star Sean Avery has weighed in on the incident, suggesting that Petgrave’s kick that led to Johnson’s death was intentional.
However, Avery stopped short of calling it a homicide when questioned by Fox host Jesse Watters. He stated that while he believed Petgrave was trying to make some sort of contact, he did not believe Petgrave woke up with the intention of causing harm.
"I saw the leg move, and it shouldn't have been where it was."
– Former Hartford Wolf Pack Sean Avery https://t.co/r5m22mnY2F
— Pucky Sports (@PuckySports) October 31, 2023
This incident has brought to light the inherent risks associated with the sport of hockey. It is not the first time a player has been fatally injured by a skate blade. In January 2022, Teddy Balkind, a 10th-grade student from Connecticut, died after his throat was cut by another player’s blade. Similarly, Clint Malarchuk survived a similar incident in 1989 but required 300 stitches to close a six-inch wound.
Avery has called for a reconsideration of the titanium thin blades currently used on players’ skates. He believes that the position of Petgrave’s leg during the collision was unorthodox and should not have been where it was. The incident is still under investigation by South Yorkshire Police.
Critics of Petgrave have pointed out his history as a ‘dirty player.’ He has played in eight different leagues during his career and is currently the most penalized player in the 2022-23 Elite Ice Hockey League, according to EuroHockey. Between 2013 to 2017, he accumulated 328 career penalty minutes.
The tragic death of Adam Johnson serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in contact sports like hockey. It is crucial that the sport’s governing bodies take this incident as an opportunity to review safety measures and equipment standards to prevent such tragedies in the future. The loss of a young, talented player like Johnson is a devastating blow to the hockey community, and our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.
