Why Hurricanes fans were chanting at Carter Hart during Stanley Cup Final Game 1

Carolina Hurricanes fans began chanting, "No means no" during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Why were they doing that?

It was an apparent taunt toward Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, who, along with four others, was part of the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial in London, Ontario. All were found not guilty by a judge.

Hart took a leave of absence from the Philadelphia Flyers right before being charged in 2024. The players' NHL teams didn't renew their contracts. After the not guilty verdict, the league said the players remained ineligible to play in the league but later set timelines for their returns. Hart, a free agent, signed with the Golden Knights in October.

Hockey Canada trial

Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with one count of sexual assault. McLeod faced a second charge of being party to the offense.

All five were in London, Ontario in June 2018 for a Hockey Canada gala celebrating their gold medal in the world junior championships. Police charged them in February 2024 with sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room after meeting her in a bar. Hart was the only player who testified at the 2025 trial.

After a mistrial and the dismissal of a second jury, Justice Maria Carroccia said she would render a verdict in the case.

"I cannot rely upon the evidence of (the accuser) and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me," Carroccia said before pronouncing all five not guilty on July 24, 2025.

NHL response and Hart's return to the league

The NHL said it found the allegations "disturbing" and players were ineligible to return while it reviewed the judge's ruling.

In September, the NHL cleared a path for a return, noting each player "expressed regret and remorse for his actions."

The league said players could sign on Oct. 15 and play on Dec. 1. Hart signed with the Golden Knights on Oct. 16.

Carter Hart's time with the Golden Knights

After signing with the Golden Knights, Hart told reporters he had learned a lot during his time away from the game and that he would only take hockey questions afterward.

He played his first game Dec. 2, a shootout win, and was hurt on Jan. 8. He missed nearly two months, but he returned on April 2, which – along with a coaching change to John Tortorella – helped Vegas makes the playoffs.

Hart helped the Golden Knights win three rounds, including a sweep of the No. 1 overall Colorado Avalanche. Vegas is in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning the 2023 title.

Carter Hart at the Stanley Cup Final

The Athletic asked Hart at Stanley Cup Final media day to follow up on his October comment about what he learned.

"I’ve learned a lot," Hart said. "I’ve grown a lot since then. And I’ve been able to meet a lot of good people in the community, and I think the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation has done a really good job of making it easy for me to integrate into the community and meet a lot of cool people and just really fortunate to be here in Vegas.

"And it’s a great culture of people, and like I said, I met a lot of cool people, and I’m just very fortunate to be here in Las Vegas and with this group."

The video on the Golden Knights' website fades at this point, and The Athletic said the team cut short the interview.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon addressed Hart's signing during a news conference the same day.

"We went through a lengthy process of due diligence with Carter," McCrimmon said, per the Athletic. "Carter is a really good person. He’s ingrained himself in our community. He’s a player that I’ve known a long time, long prior to him becoming an NHL player. Playing very well. Obviously a big part of how our team is at this point that we’re at today, and he’s fit in seamlessly with his teammates."

Neither goalie was a difference-maker in Game 1. The Golden Knights won 5-4 and lead the series 1-0.