England still uses the old common law system, which works against the guy in a criminal case since you can still be convicted of murder for something like this even without the intent to murder, if you intended the action.
You have the knowledge your skate is a bladed weapon, so if you can prove he intended to attack him with his skate then death is a foreseeable consequence.
Though I could see some judges trying to limit it.
But history of similar behavior is almost always admissible and especially since his reputation on the ice is far from spotless. Sports incidents are tough to make into criminal cases because assumption of contact is baked into most sports (and especially hockey since collisions are part and parcel of the game); but this seems to meet the egregious standard needed to merit charges. Don't think the guy meant to kill him, but he definitely was trying to hurt him based on how he launched his foot upwards to try and make contact with the guy.