Player rebailed over ice hockey death

A MAN arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been rebailed, police said.

Mr Johnson, 29, died on October 28 last year after being hit in the neck by an opposition player’s skate during a match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

The American, who was playing for Nottingham Panthers against Sheffield Steelers, died in hospital. A postmortem confirmed he died as a result of a neck injury.

A man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in November and then bailed by South Yorkshire Police.

On Thursday he was rebailed until May 14.

It added: “Our thoughts remain with Adam’s loved ones as our investigation continues.”

Mr Johnson’s death shocked the ice hockey world, especially as the incident was witnessed by thousands of fans at the arena in Sheffield.

In January Sheffield’s senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, suspended her investigation while the police inquiry took its course.

It emerged later that Ms Rawden had issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association about the use of neck guards.

In the report, the coroner said she is “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn”, with the bodies given 56 days to say what action has been taken or why it has not been taken.

Neck guards have been mandatory in the Elite League, in which the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, since January 1.

This followed the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decision in December to mandate the use of neck laceration protectors for its competitions.