Carolina fans chant ‘No means no’ at Vegas goalie Carter Hart despite acquittal for sexual assault

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Canadian sports journalist, Justin Arenburg, posted an Instagram video clip saying: “The Carolina Hurricanes made sure Carter Hart heard everything tonight from the opening ceremony when he was booed ten times louder than any other Vegas Golden Knight player on the ice, to the chants midgame that included ‘No means no.’”

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Over the course of the eight-week trial of Hart, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, and Michael McLeod, the proceedings were declared a mistrial twice. This led to Justice Maria Carroccia adjudicating the case by herself. She ultimately acquitted all five defendants, ruling that she did not find the testimony of E.M. “credible or reliable.” She also ruled that “the Crown (did not) meet its onus on any of the counts.”

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After the acquittals, the NHL eventually allowed the players to return to the league, reports ESPN.

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However, of all five players, only Hart has returned to the NHL, according to the Daily Mail. Foote signed with the Carolina Hurricanes’ AHL team, the Chicago Wolves. Dube signed a tryout deal with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. McLeod and Formenton are playing in Europe.

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Hart has been shielded by Vegas’ staff from questions about the case. That includes a press conference in the run-up to the Stanley Cup Finals, when Hart answered a single question about the verdict before a communications officer cut the media scrum short.

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