Matt Petgrave Walks Free in Shocking Twist Behind Ex-NHL Star Adam Johnson’s Death

When the news broke that Matt Petgrave, a name quietly linked to the tragic passing of former NHL player Adam Johnson, would dodge criminal charges, it left many wrestling with a mix of relief and unresolved emotions. Petgrave, once arrested on manslaughter suspicion following Johnson’s heartbreaking death during a 2023 hockey game, now stands clear of prosecution — an outcome confirmed this week by British officials. After a meticulous probe conducted by law enforcement and weighed by the Crown Prosecution Service, it was concluded that pursuing charges simply wouldn’t hold water in court. For those who followed Johnson’s career—from his days with the Pittsburgh Penguins to his tenure in the UK with the Nottingham Panthers—this chapter closes not with justice served in the courtroom, but with lingering sorrow over a freak accident on the ice that forever altered lives. Life in sports isn’t always about glory; sometimes it’s about grappling with the unpredictable and harsh realities that come crashing in when you least expect them. LEARN MORE