Carter Hart says 'no means no!' chants from Hurricanes fans are 'just noise'

Danny Webster, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Jun 13, 2026

Published in Hockey

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LAS VEGAS — Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart said Saturday he was unfazed by chants from Carolina Hurricanes fans during the Stanley Cup Final regarding his involvement in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.

Carolina fans occasionally chanted “no means no!” toward Hart. The goaltender and four other players were acquitted in July after being accused of sexual assault from an incident stemming from the 2018 World Junior championships.

Hart was formally charged in January 2024 and was out of the league until he and the four other players were reinstated by the NHL on Oct. 15. The Knights signed Hart to a two-year, $4 million contract one week later.

“It’s just noise,” Hart said. “Both atmospheres, both buildings, have been really loud and just a lot of fun to play in. It’s just noise.”

The chants came during all three of Carolina’s home games at Lenovo Center. They started small in Game 1, but grew louder in Game 2.

By Game 5, a 4-2 win for the Hurricanes on Thursday, the chants reached their apex.

Hart has allowed four goals in all five games of the Cup Final, which the Knights trail 3-2 and will try to force a Game 7 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

Saturday was the first time Hart answered questions since Media Day prior to the start of the series.

Hart did not take practice with the team Saturday, but rather worked with goalie coach Sean Burke at the opposite rink of City National Arena. Adin Hill and Akira Schmid were the only goalies on the main rink, which coach John Tortorella called an optional practice despite being heavily attended.

Tortorella snapped at a reporter following Game 5 when asked if there was any thought to switching goalies in the third period and going with Hill, the netminder during the Knights’ 2023 championship run.

On Saturday, Tortorella doubled down on that claim.

“Pretty self-explanatory from the other night,” Tortorella said. “He’s ready to go.”

Hart is one of the reasons why the Knights are in a position to compete for the Stanley Cup.

He started, and finished, all 16 playoff games through three rounds and put himself in the conversation for the Conn Smythe Trophy with a .924 save percentage and 2.22 goals-against average.

Hart has an .856 save percentage and 3.70 GAA during the Stanley Cup Final. He became the first goaltender to allow four or more goals in each of the first five games of a Final.

“I haven’t been my best this series,” Hart said. “I’ll be better next game.”