2025-07-24
Former Flyers goalie Carter Hart found not guilty in Hockey Canada trial
Almost a year and a half after being charged with sexual assault, former Flyers goaltender Carter Hart was found not guilty in the high-profile Hockey Canada trial.Hart was acquitted by Justice Maria Carroccia, according to live coverage from CBC’s Kate Dubinski and Rhianna Schmunk.The trial for the sexual assault case involving Hart and four other players from the 2018 Canadian world junior team began in April and the closing statements were made last month. The verdicts were announced Thursday in London, Ontario.The Flyers cut ties with Hart in June 2024 when they didn’t issue him a qualifying offer, turning his restricted free-agent status into unrestricted. He had been away from the team since January 2024 after being granted an indefinite leave of absence.In February 2024, London police charged Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton with sexual assault, stemming from a June 2018 incident. A woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the players in a hotel room. Hart was 19 years old at the time.The four other players were also acquitted Thursday.Hart’s legal representation stated in January 2024 that he was innocent and would “provide a full response to this false allegation in the proper forum, a court of law.”During the trial, Hart testified in his defense, which TSN’s Rick Westhead reported on here and here.Hart turns 27 years old next month. He was a second-round draft pick of the Flyers in 2016, made his NHL debut in 2018 at just 20 years old and spent parts of six seasons with the club. He started in five straight season openers from 2019-20 to 2023-24.The Flyers parted ways with Hart about a week before free agency last summer as the sexual assault case was pushing through court and had no trial start date yet.“We just felt it was the right decision at this time, unfortunately,” general manager Danny Briere said in July 2024.