Carolina Hurricanes fans reignited a controversial chant during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night, directing 'no means no' at Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart. The chant, which has followed Hart since his acquittal in a sexual assault case last year, was audible throughout the game at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Chant Heard Loud and Clear
Video footage posted by The Athletic captured the chant echoing through the arena, and according to the outlet, it was also picked up by the Sportsnet broadcast during moments when play was at the opposite end of the ice from Hart. This marked the second consecutive game in which fans verbally targeted the goaltender, following similar chants during Game 1 of the series.
A social media post from IcyVert showed the chant in action, with fans clearly articulating the phrase as Hart tended goal.
Background on the Case
Hart was one of five members of the 2018 Canadian world junior hockey team accused of sexually assaulting a woman in London, Ontario, in 2018. After a lengthy and highly publicized trial, Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted all five players, and the NHL lifted their suspensions on December 1, 2025. Hart is the only player among the five to re-sign with an NHL team, joining the Vegas Golden Knights on October 24, 2025. Co-accused Cal Foote signed with the Carolina Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, in December 2025.
Game 2 Recap
While the Golden Knights won Game 1 with a 5-4 comeback victory, the Hurricanes bounced back in Game 2. Seth Jarvis scored the overtime winner at 3:56, one-timing a pass from Shayne Gostisbehere past Hart's blocker on a power play. The goal came just seconds after Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal drew a tripping penalty on Tomas Hertl, who had been the hero in Game 1.
Carolina trailed 2-0 entering the third period but scored three times to take the lead. However, Mark Stone tied the game with just over a minute remaining, forcing overtime. Hart made 22 saves on 26 shots in the loss. Since joining Vegas, Hart has posted an 11-3-3 record in the regular season with a 2.71 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he is 13-5 with a 2.41 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
Series Shifts to Vegas
The series now moves to Las Vegas for Games 3 and 4, where Hart is unlikely to face the same level of hostility from the crowd. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday, and Game 4 will take place on Tuesday, June 9. With the series tied 1-1, a fifth game is guaranteed, set for Thursday, June 11, back in Carolina.
Additional Controversies
Press Conference Cut Short
The chants are not the only controversy surrounding Hart at the Stanley Cup Final. On Monday, during the NHL's pre-Final media day, Hart's press conference was abruptly ended after he answered a question about the Hockey Canada trial. When asked by The Athletic about what he meant in October regarding learning and growth since the verdict, Hart responded: “I’ve learned a lot. 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.” A Golden Knights staff member immediately ended the session, preventing follow-up questions.
Free Alberta Shirt
Hart also stirred controversy last month when he appeared in a social media post wearing a 'Free Alberta' shirt. The image, posted on X, showed Hart giving a hockey stick to a young fan who had traveled from Chicago to Las Vegas with a sign celebrating passing his high school finals. The 'Free Alberta' slogan is associated with the Alberta separatism movement, which recent polls indicate is opposed by two-thirds of Albertans.
