A man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter on Tuesday in connection with the death of former DEL professional Adam Johnson during a game in the British Ice Hockey Cup. This was announced by South Yorkshire Police in a statement provided to The Yorkshire Post newspaper.
Police did not provide any information about the man’s identity. This means it remains officially unclear whether the person arrested is Johnson’s opponent.
“We began an investigation immediately following this tragedy and have since conducted extensive investigations to piece together the events that led to Adam’s death in these unprecedented circumstances,” South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said in the statement quoted.
The 29-year-old Johnson, who was still active for the Augsburg Panthers in the previous season, was hit in the neck by one of his opponent’s runners during a collision with his Nottingham Panthers on October 28th and died as a result of the injuries. His death sparked great sympathy and a security debate. Several professional leagues, including the DEL, have since made it mandatory to wear neck protection.