Canadian hockey player Matt Petgrave, whose skate blade tragically cut the neck of former NHL forward Adam Johnson during a game in England, has signed a contract to continue his career in North America with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL.
The Indy Fuel, a team in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), announced Petgrave’s signing for the upcoming season, marking his first competitive action since the fatal 2023 incident. The news has drawn attention across the hockey world because of the high-profile nature of Johnson’s death and the long legal and investigation process that followed.
Johnson, a 29-year-old forward who had briefly played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, died after his neck was cut by Petgrave’s skate blade during an Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) match between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers in October 2023. The accident shocked fans internationally and reignited conversations about hockey safety and skate-blade injuries. (
Petgrave was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the collision, but a later investigation concluded that he would not face criminal charges, allowing him to return to professional play.
In a statement, the Fuel’s ownership said they believe Petgrave deserves the opportunity to continue his hockey career and that he can be a positive presence both on and off the ice. Petgrave expressed gratitude to the organization and Indy community for the chance to play again.
Before his time overseas, Petgrave spent several seasons in the ECHL and the American Hockey League and was an ECHL All-Star in 2017-18. The ECHL serves as a developmental league two levels below the NHL, and his return there reflects both his experience and the complex legacy of the tragic incident.
