Social media users skeptical over ‘freak accident’ claims after video footage of incident appears to show player deliberately extending leg to strike opponent with skate.
A professional hockey player’s brutal death during a match has ignited controversy online, with the media attributing the incident to an accident, while social media users remain skeptical.
Over the weekend, hockey player Adam Johnson, 29, suffered a fatal injury during an Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield Arena in England caused by an opponent’s ice skate blade slicing open his neck.
Speaking to the media, Johnson’s aunt Kari described witnessing the incident online from the US, saying, “We saw it happen. It was horrific. It was, it was. I cannot even describe it because nobody should have to live through what we saw.”
“The skate cut right through Adam’s windpipe, and it cut his carotid artery. And, at one point, they had lost him in the ambulance and they brought him back. And, um, he didn’t make it through surgery once they got him to the hospital. They just couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. He lost way too much blood.”
After Johnson’s passing, his team, the Nottingham Panthers, described the incident as a “freak accident,” with the media arguing Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave, who delivered the fatal blow, required personal support due to unintentionally causing the death.
American ice hockey player Adam Johnson has died following a “freak accident” on the ice as he played for English side Nottingham Panthers, the team said in a statement.https://t.co/M2btZe2Gu1
— CNN Sports (@cnnsport) October 29, 2023
American hockey star Adam Johnson has died at age 29 following a “freak accident” during a game for a British hockey league on Saturday. https://t.co/gJqVPcincG
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 30, 2023
Interesting how strongly the media is running damage control on this already. pic.twitter.com/JK49ou2dfb
— Mostly Peaceful Memes (@MostlyPeacefull) October 30, 2023
However, some social media users questioned if this was indeed the case, pointing to video footage of the incident appearing to indicate Petgrave deliberately extended his leg to strike Johnson with his skate.
**WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT — VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED**
This video is crazy.
Hockey player Adam Johnson tragically died during a game and it was called a freak accident.
But look at this video.
Opposing player Matt Petgrave puts his skate up at Johnson’s neck.
Police are investigating.
Horrible. pic.twitter.com/7gL9Tqk9WA
— 🇺🇸 Chloe the MAGA chick 🇺🇸 (@MagaisLife) October 30, 2023
I played hockey into college. Seen many a gruesome injury, suffered a few myself.
Never seen anything remotely like this. Looks intentional. You be the judge. https://t.co/ahwi8M6uQG
— Dan Lyman (@realdanlyman) October 29, 2023
If you stab someone with a knife and they die that’s murder even if you didn’t mean it
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 30, 2023
Calling the murder of hockey player Adam Johnson a freak accident is like saying the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack was committed by an SUV. pic.twitter.com/nEUCfaornd
— Chad Crowley (@CCrowley100) October 30, 2023
Weird the media won’t show the video of how #AdamJohnson was murdered.
This was very obviously not a “freak accident.” That player intentionally kicked Johnson in the face with his skate, which is absolutely a deadly weapon. pic.twitter.com/R5CE3DdqUr
— Hakuna Matata (@HakunaMateria) October 29, 2023
CONTENT WARNING (Graphic Video)
I apologize for taking a break from my normal content, but this incident needs exposure.
I’ve played hockey my whole life, I’ve NEVER seen anything even remotely close to this sick and gruesome.
The attacker Matt Petgrave (player in red,… https://t.co/bCvyncuoyg pic.twitter.com/ySxh6wbbGb
— Aesthetica (@Anc_Aesthetics) October 30, 2023
One X user claimed Petgrave in the past had been dubbed a “dirty player” by fans, and pointed out he’d “been booted out of two out of the last four games, for abuse of officials and spearing.”
“While it’s doubtful it was intentional pre-meditated murder, a deliberate outstretched leg and kick at throat height is more than an accident. The only time a leg should be held that high up while on ice is in figure skating,” the user added.
The media is describing Elite Ice Hockey League player Adam Johnson getting his throat sliced by the skate of an aggressive player as a “freak accident”. Fans aren’t so sure and many think he is a dirty player. The offender, Matt Petgrave, has been booted out of two out of the… https://t.co/IIisZGoEhN pic.twitter.com/ZMQRwloSYo
— Southern Man (@MagicBelle1) October 30, 2023
That sentiment was echoed by another user who criticized Petgrave’s high kick.
You don’t kick up your skates in hockey. It’s known how much damage the blades can do. I REFUSE to buy into the media narrative that this was a freak accident. This looks like involuntary manslaughter to me, Matt Petgrave should be in jail for inadvertantly killing Adam Johnson. https://t.co/yJS1qxxvWy
— Alyxander Volkender (@AVolkender) October 30, 2023
Speculation over the throat slash was so rife it made its way on to local sports talk radio in Boston, where broadcasters debated whether it was intentional.
Boston sports radio show sparks fury as presenters speculate whether Adam Johnson was INTENTIONALLY kicked by opponent Matt Petgrave in tragic hockey death… before co-host jokes he ‘wanted a skate to the neck’ when Mac Jones threw interception https://t.co/L81o7NVIUN pic.twitter.com/RsL1MUOFqD
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) October 30, 2023
Some questioned if the media would have labeled it a “freak accident” if a white player’s kick had led to a black player’s death.
But race couldn’t possibly be a motive, could it?
Meanwhile on Reddit, users defended Petgrave against accusations of murder.
The claims of a freak accident being responsible for the death and the media’s defense of Petgrave also naturally spawned numerous memes.
What terrifies me is if a black hockey player were to launch a flying kick at a white player brutally killing him.
Imagine the mean comments he might receive pic.twitter.com/2hOb9aoDj6
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 30, 2023
Police in the UK are reportedly investigating the death, with South Yorkshire Police stating, “Our officers remain at the scene carrying out enquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.”
They added the public should not speculate about the incident:
“We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our enquiries.”
So the media is now moving on from “freak accident” and starting to speculate about charges for a crime.
Is it a crime? Are there other comparisons from other sports?
Let’s talk about other sports, such as football. If a linebacker did an illegal spear (top of helmet) to the… pic.twitter.com/TupxFT1OSt
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) October 30, 2023
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