Former Flyers goalie Carter Hart, cleared of sexual assault charges, returns to Philadelphia as a Golden Knights visitor after two years, facing his old team.
Hart’s Return to Philadelphia
Almost 23 months after his last game with the Flyers, Hart reappeared in the city as a visiting player for the Golden Knights. The former Flyers goaltender, who was found not guilty in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, will not be facing his former team Thursday.
Game Context and Lineup
The Flyers host Vegas at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Hart will serve as the Golden Knights’ backup goaltender. Akira Schmid starts for Vegas, having last played six days ago when he blanked the Devils 3‑0 on the road.
Recent Performance
Hart was in net for the Golden Knights’ last two road games. The team lost to the Islanders 5‑4 in a shootout on Tuesday, two days after beating the Rangers 3‑2 in overtime.
Coaching Comments
Bruce Cassidy explained the decision: “We discussed it, obviously, with him, but that was more us making the decision, that Akira had to get back in pretty soon coming off a shutout,” he said. “That’s how we landed on it.”
Cassidy added, “Carter wants to play every game,” and that he is “a very competitive guy. … Coming out of the Ranger game, he wanted to get right back in the net. That led to the decision on Long Island.”
Media Availability
The Golden Knights did not make Hart available to the media after their morning skate at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Legal and Team History
Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were found not guilty in July, almost a year and a half after being charged with sexual assault stemming from a June 2018 incident in London, Ontario.
Danny Briere said in September that Hart’s agent contacted the Flyers and pretty much ruled out the possibility of a reunion between the club and goaltender. Flyers’ general manager later stated: “In light of everything that happened in the last year and a half with Carter, they felt and Carter felt that it was better for them to look for a fresh start,” and added that was the only comment he would make.
The Flyers cut ties with Hart in June 2024 when they did not issue 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.
Hart started in five straight season openers for the Flyers from 2019‑20 to 2023‑24 and played parts of six seasons for the club.
Key Takeaways
- Carter Hart, cleared of charges, returns to Philadelphia as a Golden Knights visitor.
- Hart will serve as backup; Akira Schmid starts for Vegas.
- Flyers cut ties with Hart in June 2024; he has been away since January 2024.
The return marks a dramatic homecoming for Hart, who has faced significant legal and professional challenges in the past two years.
