One play. One moment. One tragedy. It was a Saturday night on October 28, just a few days before Halloween. This game between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers, a hockey team part of the Elite Ice Hockey League, was just a regular season game, until one collision, when lives were forever changed. After an unusual looking bump, Matt Petgrave’s skate rises up in the air, before striking the throat oft. Adam Johnson, a Nottingham Panther and former NHL player, who falls to the ground. He tries to stop the bleeding but in a matter of seconds his jersey is soaked with blood, emergency medical personnel rush to help but little can be done. Only a few hours later, Johnson was dead. My thoughts and prayers are with the Johnson family. Nobody should die playing the game they love. Unfortunately, immediately after this tragedy, headlines and social media exploded. Instead of focusing on the life of Johnson, it was the other player who was put in the spotlight.
Matt Petgrave was the center of attention in the media. His past, race, and future were discussed. Twitter flooded with messages about the date for his murder trial, others speaking about this being a moment of anti-white terrorism, due to Petgrave being black and Johnson being white. Petgrave has a past of penalties and taking cheap shots, which was factored into the judgements of all bystanders. Just one day after the tragedy, Petgrave was given his sentence from social media, labeled a criminal, terrorist, and a murderer.
The uproar from communities was caused by the posting of the video of the hit, millions upon millions viewing it and drawing their own conclusions. As a hockey player it is important for me to share my perspective on the tragedy. I believe there were no ill intentions from Petgrave beyond trying to hit Johnson, a play that is a foundational part of hockey. Right before the hit is the most suspicious for many: how can a skate blade get that high in the air? I understand many people believe it is impossible to do without an intent to permanently injure, yet people must understand that hockey is a game of balance. Playing on a sheet of ice while standing on a ½ inch blade of steel, any sort of balance you have could be lost with just one interference to the skate. The awkward bump for Petgrave right before the hit disrupts his balance, his skate is held back and restricted right before it leaves the ice. Almost held back like a slingshot before being released, I do agree that Petgrave was looking to hit him, potentially in a reckless way, yet never with an intent to kill. Yet, big hits are a normal and inspirational part of hockey, and it appears that Petgrave was attempting to do just that.
South Yorkshire police started an investigation immediately after the tragedy, a normal procedure for any unexpected death that occurs. It was believed at the beginning of the investigation that Petgrave could be looking at a charge of involuntary manslaughter for the collision, at the worst, if they found him guilty of the crime. After weeks of investigation Petgrave was arrested with manslaughter.
Petgrave being viewed as only a dirty player and nothing beyond that is a dangerous assumption as well, although he has had dirty hits in the past he also has had years as a point scorer in top leagues of hockey, even the AHL (the league directly below the NHL). It is dangerous to assign a label to someone in just a few moments of research, specifically when associating hockey penalties with the death of a human being. Labels like an anti-white terrorist were the most embarrasing in my eyes, to pit race against race is shameful as a society, as well as the use of death to push an agenda. Instead, we should recognize the life of Adam Johnson.
This past weekend, Matt Petgrave returned to the ice to play a game for the first time since the tragedy three weeks ago. He received a standing ovation from over 8,000 spectators in the stands, a recognition of the struggle he has overcome in real life and the digital world. He has been released on bail since his arrest for suspicion of manslaughter, now out of jail at the moment. I hope that Petgrave is not found guilty of this crime. I hope people recognize that while this was a tragedy, it should not be a moment where Petgrave is punished criminally for an accident. From my perspective as a hockey player of 14 years, this moment was an accident, and nothing more.
Adam Johnson’s death has given a rise to encouraged neck guard use as well, more leagues for hockey pushing towards the use of the protective neckwear. That is a positive that has emerged when celebrating the life of Adam Johnson, no one should die playing the sport they love, and that neck guard could have saved his life. Although a life was lost that day on the ice, I am content that the sport I have played for so many years is getting safer, so more lives can be protected.
