Police in Sheffield, England, say they have made an arrest in the death of hockey player Adam Johnson.
South Yorkshire Police said in a statement Tuesday a man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and is in police custody.
The release did not name the suspect.
The player who cut Johnson’s neck was Matt Petgrave, 31, who plays for Sheffield.
“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said.
Johnson, a forward for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League, had his neck cut by a skate blade during an Oct. 28 game against the Sheffield Steelers.
He was later pronounced dead in hospital. A post-mortem confirmed he died as a result of a fatal neck injury.
The 29-year-old Johnson, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., appeared in 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020.
The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League, reacted to Johnson’s death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards from the start of 2024.
Messages sent to Johnson’s agent and a friend of the family seeking comment were not immediately returned.