Matt Petgrave's former Coach provides an insight into him as a player, calls him reckless and dirty

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TJ Tucker
November 16, 2023 (10:06)

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Since the death of Adam Johnson due to a skate cut during a game in England near the end of October, many have come out in defense of the player who's skate was responsible. Not this guy, though. One of his former coaches says he never liked Petgrave and found him to be reckless and dirty.

Elmo Aittola was an assistant coach with Spisska Nova Ves HK of the Slovak Extraliga when Petgrave played there in 2021-22. Aittola did not hold back on the type of player he thinks Petgrave is.

"I coached Matt for a very short while. I wanted to get rid of him immediately."

"I had a very negative impression of him. He has no respect for himself or his opponents."

"He is a very dirty player."

As for whether what happened was intentional on Petgrave's part, Aittola said he doesn't think so. But, if anyone was capable of doing it, he believes it would be Petgrave.

"I don't think his intention was to kill anyone. I don't think he intended to harm anyone."

"But, if there's one player I'm willing to believe could use his skates to stop an opponent, I think Matt Petgrave could. He is an extremely reckless player."

Petgrave has been arrested by police in the U.K. on suspicion of manslaughter. However, no charges have been laid, while Petgrave was released on bail. Meanwhile, Aittola believes hockey has become too fast without any regard for safety.

"In hockey, there is too much speed, not enough thought, not enough skill."