Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals ended in a 5-4 victory for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, but the team's goalie faced his own particular challenge during the series opener. Carolina Hurricanes fans chanted 'No means no' at Carter Hart, in a loud and very public reference to his part in a sexual assault case that arose following accusations made by a woman who was involved in a hotel celebration with five members of Canada's junior men's national team after they won the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
Acquittal in High-Profile Trial
Hart and four of his teammates were acquitted of all charges last July. The trial garnered significant media attention, and the verdict was met with mixed reactions. Despite the legal outcome, the chant at PNC Arena indicated that some fans still hold strong opinions about the case.
Chant Heard Throughout the Arena
Monday night in Raleigh, N.C., many of the more than 18,000 fans at PNC Arena 'relentlessly chanted 'No means no!' at Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart throughout Game 1,' the Hockey News site, Hockey Forever, posted on Instagram on June 2. The post also includes a video clip from the game, in which the chant can clearly be heard as the action continues.
The chant was also captured on social media. A video from IcyVert, identified in the Hockey Forever post, shows the moment the chant began. The post reads: 'A 'no means no' chant has started here.'
The incident has sparked debate among fans and commentators, with some criticizing the chant as inappropriate given the acquittal, while others defend it as a form of protest. Hart did not comment on the incident after the game, focusing instead on the team's victory.
