Ice hockey pro Matthew Petgrave arrested over death of Adam Johnson launches crowdfunding appeal to pay legal costs

AN ice hockey pro arrested over an opponent’s horror death in a game has launched a crowdfunding appeal to pay his legal costs.

Matthew Petgrave, 32, says he has been trapped without insurance or a visa and unable to work since being held on suspicion of manslaughter.

The Canadian is still on bail over the death of Nottingham Panthers’ Adam Johnson, who bled to death on the ice when his neck was sliced open by a skate following a collision.

Sheffield Steelers ace Petgrave hopes to raise £300,000 on the online platform CrowdJustice.

He praised team-mates, players, coaches, officials and his family for their support but said: “The legal process has been long and challenging.”

Thousands of fans saw American Adam, 29, fatally injured at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena in October last year.

While many in the sport have said it was an accident, Petgrave was arrested the following month.

He got a standing ovation at his team’s first home game after the incident — but has endured racial abuse online.

A pro for seven years, he played in elite leagues in Europe before coming to Sheffield.

His appeal stood at more than £9,000 last night.