Man arrested over ice hockey player's death bailed

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson died in hospital on 28 October

A man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson has been released on police bail.

The Nottingham Panthers player was hit in the neck by a skate during a match against the Sheffield Steelers on 28 October.

The 29-year-old was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

South Yorkshire Police announced the arrest on Tuesday but said on Wednesday the man had been released on bail.

Nottingham Panthers have previously described Johnson's death as a "freak accident".

Image source, PA Media

Flowers, candles, and messages were left outside Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, where the Panthers play

The death of Johnson, who was from Hibbing, Minnesota in the US, sparked an outpouring of grief across the world.

Speaking to KSTP-TV, a local news station based in Minnesota, the player's aunt Kari Johnson said her nephew was planning to propose to his partner, Ryan Wolfe.

"We were all really excited because we were really looking forward to their future and he didn't get a chance to ask her, and then this happened," she said.

Johnson previously played in North America's National Hockey League (NHL), featuring 13 times for Pittsburgh Penguins.

He scored his maiden NHL goal in his home state for the Penguins against the Minnesota Wild in 2019.