The Vegas Golden Knights have officially welcomed goaltender Carter Hart to their team following his recent acquittal in a sexual assault trial. The NHL club made the announcement on Thursday but did not disclose the specifics of the agreement, although various reports indicated that Hart signed a professional tryout agreement.
Hart, who is currently under suspension by the NHL until Dec. 1, expressed his gratitude and excitement about joining the Golden Knights during a media session at the team’s facility in Las Vegas. He emphasized his eagerness to showcase his true character and commitment to the community. Hart mentioned that it has been a challenging journey back to playing hockey, a sport he loves, after being away from the game for a year and a half.
In 2018, Hart, along with four other players – Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton – faced sexual assault charges stemming from an incident following a celebration of the Canadian world junior team’s victory. All five players were acquitted on July 24 after a trial in London, Ont.
Hart is the first of the acquitted players to sign with an NHL team, with McLeod moving to a team in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League and Formenton continuing his professional career in Switzerland. The NHL had previously stated that the conduct of the accused players was unacceptable despite being found not to be criminal. The league allowed them to re-sign contracts no earlier than Oct. 15, with eligibility to play in NHL games set for Dec. 1.
The Golden Knights expressed their support for Hart, stating that they align with the NHL’s decisions and remain committed to upholding their core values. Hart was the sole player among the five to testify at the trial, where he maintained that the encounter in question was consensual.
Hart, a 27-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., spent his first six NHL seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Despite some controversy surrounding his past, Dan Mason, a sport management professor at the University of Alberta, noted that Hart’s return to the NHL was expected given his skill and track record.
The Golden Knights, considered top contenders for the Stanley Cup this season, have been rotating goaltending duties between Adin Hill and Akira Schmid, with Schmid showing strong performances in his limited appearances.