Carter Hart, one of five members of Canada's 2018 World Junior team recently acquitted of sexual assault, is making his plea. NHL returning Tuesday evening.
27 year old goalkeeper. signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in October, was eligible to return Monday after his NHL suspension ended.
After a brief stint in the American Hockey League (AHL), Hart was recalled by the Golden Knights on Sunday and will start against the Chicago Blackhawks in Las Vegas, head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters Tuesday.
Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with one count of sexual assault related to an encounter with a woman after the 2018 Canadian World Junior Team gold medal gala. McLeod was also charged with one count of accessory to a crime.
The five players were acquitted on July 24 at a trial in London, Ont.
Hart is the first of five players to sign with an NHL team. McLeod has since signed a contract with a team in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), while Formenton plays in Switzerland.
On Monday Foote signed a contract with the AHL with the Chicago Wolves, an affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. Dube spent the 2024-25 season with Dynamo Minsk of the KHL in Belarus, but the 27-year-old winger did not play this season.
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All players except Formenton were in the NHL when they were charged in early 2024. The NHL announced in September of this year that they would be eligible to sign on October 15th and play on December 1st.
Hart, from Sherwood Park, Alta., spent his first six NHL seasons in Philadelphia; On 23 January 2024, he took an indefinite leave of absence from the club before handing himself in to police in London. He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2023–24 season when the Flyers did not extend him a qualifying offer.
The Golden Knights, among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, have split goaltending duties between Adin Hill and Akira Schmid this season.
Shortly after signing the contract, the team sent Hart to the Henderson Silver Knights, their AHL affiliate, for training; While playing in the minors, Hart posted a 1-2-0 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage.
In a YouTube video posted Monday by the Golden Knights, Hart told reporters that the thought of returning to the NHL is what has “kept me going” the past few years.
“I've been trying my best to get back to this point. For me, preparation is key and I've done everything I can to be ready and I'll be ready if they call me tomorrow,” Hart said.
“Obviously there's going to be nerves. I get nervous before every game, but that's only because I'm so excited about it. At the end of the day, those nerves turn into excitement. This is the game I've played my whole life. I've played a lot of NHL hockey and been here before. I haven't played in a while, but it'll be nice to get back out there and play again and get things going here in Vegas.”
After signing with Vegas in October, Hart read a statement to reporters that said, in part, that he wanted to “show the community my true character and who I am and what I'm about.”
Hart said Monday that while in Henderson, he and his team helped the homeless and that he is ready to do more with the Golden Knights.
“There are some things we've talked about all season. Whatever I can do to help, I'm happy to help,” he said.
Puck drop between Vegas and Chicago is scheduled for 10:00 pm ET.
— with files from The Canadian Press and Associated Press.
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