Who is Matt Petgrave? Know everything about the player centered around Adam Johnson’s death controversy

Know everything about Matt Petgrave, the player involved in the "freak accident" which resulted in the death of Adam Johnson

Who is Matt Petgrave? Know everything about the player centered around Adam Johnson’s death controversy

Matt Petgrave (L) and Adam Johnson (R) [Pic Credit: AP/Imago]

The hockey world on Saturday received a major shock and blow after they found out about the death of Adam Johnson. The former NHLer was involved in a horrific collision, later dubbed a “freak accident” with Matt Petgrave. Since then his name began trending on social media as several users called him out, but who exactly is he?

While he never made it to the NHL, Petrgave has been in the ice hockey world for a while now. Originally from Ontario, Canada, the 31-year-old defenceman has been making waves in the minor leagues since the 2008-09 season. He has appeared for teams like Niagara IceDogs, Owen Sound Attack, Oshawa Generals, University of New Brunswick, and Brampton Beast.

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Since then he has also made appearances in the AHL, the development league of the NHL, and currently plays for the Sheffield Steelers. Prior to joining the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in England, he was seen embracing European leagues in Czechia and Slovakia.

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Matt Petgrave’s role in Adam Johnson’s death

The “freak accident” going viral on social media revolves around the collision of Matt Petgrave and Adam Johnson. The duo were involved in a heavy collision on Saturday when the Sheffield Steelers took on the Nottingham Panthers in the EIHL. Nobody would have predicted the end of this game would be because of such a tragic incident.

Adam Johnson and Matt Petgrave
Adam Johnson (L) and Matt Petgrave (R) [Pic Credit: Imago/EIHL]

During the collision, Petgrave stumbled and lost his balance. In this process, his ice skate would slit the throat of Johnson. This led to Johnson going down on the field. He somehow got up and skated across as a huge amount of blood was spotted on the white ice field, sending shivers down the spine of the spectators present.

What happened to Matt Petgrave after the incident?

Following the incident, the game was immediately halted and postponed. Videos of the incident have been circling across social media platforms. This has led to fans and experts slamming him for this action and calling him out.

Matt Petgrave
Matt Petgrave (Pic Credit: X)

Former NHLer Sean Avery claimed he had never seen anything like this before. Meanwhile, TV host, Jesse Watters labeled his move as “homicide” and something done intentionally and not an accident. Petgrave was reported to have been left distraught and had to switch his social media accounts to private.

What has Adam Johnson’s team said regarding Matt Petgrave?

The Nottingham Panthers have so far not released a statement regarding Matt Petgrave. However, Johnson’s teammate Westin Michaud has come into his defense. The 27-year-old has labeled the hatred towards Petgrave “terrible and uncalled for“.

Westin Michaud and Matt Petgrave
Westin Michaud (L) has come towards the support of Matt Petgrave (R) [Pic Credit: Daily Mail/AP]

The Steelers have also supported their player and expressed their strong displeasure over the hate he has received. In a statement released by them, they condemned the hate speech against him and urged users to stop using their accounts to spread an agenda against him.

FAQs

Q. How old is Matt Petgrave?

Matt Petgrave is 31 years old.

Q. Has Matt Petgrave ever appeared in the NHL?

No. Matt Petgrave has not played in the NHL.

Q. How many points did Matt Petrgave collect last season?

Matt Petrgrave scored nine goals and collected 48 points in the 2022-23 season.

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