Man bailed in ice hockey player death investigation

A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been bailed pending further inquiries, police said.

Mr Johnson died on 28 October after being hit in the neck by the skate of a member of the opposing team during an ice hockey match at Sheffield's Utilita Arena.

The 29-year-old American was playing for Nottingham Panthers against Sheffield Steelers at the time of the incident, and later died in hospital.

The man was arrested yesterday and South Yorkshire Police confirmed this morning that he has been bailed to a date in the New Year as inquiries continue.

An inquest into Mr Johnson's death was opened and adjourned on 3 November, but Sheffield's senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, has already called on the sport's governing bodies to take action.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA), Ms Rawden 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 action has not been taken.

The EIHA said neck guards will become mandatory from 2024 but the Elite League, in which the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, is not under its control.

The Elite Ice Hockey League said it will not make the use of neck guards mandatory but will "strongly encourage" players and officials to wear them.