Amid criticism and controversy, many Golden Knights fans are supporting Carter Hart

As onlookers waited for overtime of Thursday’s Stanley Cup Final game at a Vegas Golden Knights watch party, hockey fan Toni Sobilo offered her thoughts on the team’s embattled goalie.

The talk was not about Vegas goalie Carter Hart’s save percentage or his many highlight-reel plays during the team’s run to the finals, but about an alleged sexual assault from 2018.

Hart, now 27, and four other Canadian hockey players were charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in June 2018 in a hotel room in London, Ontario. All were found not guilty by a judge after a bench trial in Canada.

Some critics believe the players, including Hart, were let off easy, but that sentiment did not appear to be popular at Thursday’s watch party outside Henderson City Hall, where about 300 fans watched Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on a large outdoor screen. Game 3 is Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

“People do make mistakes, but he was found not guilty,” Sobilo said. “I believe everyone needs to get a second chance, and what the Carolina fans are doing, they’re just trying to get in Carter’s head.”

Sobilo’s reference to Carolina Hurricanes fans revolved around a “no means no” chant that could be heard at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, during Game 1 of the final on Tuesday.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal spoke with nearly a dozen fans at the watch party and at a viewing party at a Nacho Daddy location in downtown Las Vegas on Thursday.

All either voiced support for Hart — whom the Golden Knights signed in October — or said they were not aware of the allegations at all.

Golden Knights fan Cheryl Powers was with a small group watching the game at the Henderson watch party on Thursday. She was among those who were not aware of any controversy surrounding Hart, but her opinion, once learning about it, was simple.

“If he was found not guilty, then let it go,” Powers said. “Why hold on to it? He’s been doing really good, so I think people are trying to put him down because of that.”

Though Hart struggled in the first two games of the final against Carolina — the Golden Knights won the first game and lost the second in overtime when he allowed the game-winning goal — he has been terrific during the 2026 postseason, posting a save percentage of .917.

The allegations

The case received more media attention in Canada than in the United States, which might be one reason some Golden Knights fans were unaware of it.

Hart, Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote were acquitted of all charges by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia on July 24, 2025.

Charges were brought six years after the alleged incident, in early 2024. At the time, Hart was playing for the Philadelphia Flyers but was soon placed on leave from the team for personal reasons.

According to court records, Hart admitted asking the woman who accused him for oral sex and was peppered with questions on the stand about steps he and others took to keep her in an Ontario hotel room during the early hours of June 19, 2018.

In September, the NHL announced that the players who were charged would not be eligible for league games until December and that their conduct was “short of the standards and values that the league and its member clubs expect and demand.”

After signing with Vegas, Hart made his debut with the team on Dec. 2 in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sobilo, 70, said Hart seemed to take more responsibility than the other players who were charged, which is part of the reason she thinks his critics should move on.

“He was not perfect in the situation, but he’s the only one who took the stand, so he was willing to take responsibility for being there,” Sobilo said. “I believe he’s entitled to live his life.”

Dave Rowe, a Golden Knights fan who moved to the Las Vegas Valley from Chicago nearly two decades ago, took it a step further as he offered his opinion on Hart.

“They went through the judicial system in Canada, and they were acquitted,” Rowe said. “Whatever punishment was handed down, he’s served his time. I think he’s learned from it, and I think he’s trying to put his best foot forward. I don’t think anyone has gone through life and not made a mistake on some level. I think it’s unfortunate that the fanbase for the team we’re playing is trying to get in (Hart’s) head. I think that’s inappropriate.”

Strong opposition

In some corners online, there has been strong opposition to how Hart has been able to resume his NHL career. A page called “WeBelieve” on X lists itself as being “dedicated to educating the public on the legal shortcomings that led to the acquittal of Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube and Alex Formenton.”

In a post on that page, Kristin Raworth, who identified herself as a sexual violence survivor advocate, said many who defend Hart do not understand what the judge’s not-guilty decision for the players truly means.

“A not guilty verdict simply means that the burden of proof was not met,” the post said. “It does not mean someone was found innocent. Also, anyone who has survived sexual violence or been in the justice system knows what an uphill battle it is.”

When reached by direct message, the creator of the “WeBelieve” page declined to comment.

A Change.org petition titled “Urge the Vegas Golden Knights to not sign Carter Hart” features dozens of comments, some from Knights fans. The petition, created eight months ago, had garnered 2,465 signatures by Friday.

“I’ve been a VGK fan since the beginning, and I am so disappointed about this,” a signatory to the petition commented.

As well, fake images that were circulating on social media appeared to show Hart’s helmet featuring references to controversial celebrities.

In a statement, Elizabeth Abdur-Raheem, executive director of the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, did not name Hart or the Golden Knights but said, in part, that a lack of a conviction does not always mean a sexual assault did not take place.

“Sexual assault continues to be the least reported crime and the least likely to result in a conviction,” she said. “In the United States, fewer than 40 percent of sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement and, of those that are reported, only between 4 and 7 percent result in a conviction. As a society we must be clear — victims should not be the ones on trial in a sexual assault case.”

Abdur-Raheem also said the coalition would be willing to work with the Golden Knights.

“NCEDSV believes that the Golden Knights and the NHL have an opportunity to lead important community and national conversations on consent, safety, and positive masculinity,” Abdur-Raheem said. “We would love to work with them and the players to bring prevention resources to make our communities safer.”

For Rowe and many in the Golden Knights fanbase, the thinking is that Hart should get to go on with his life without constant reminders about the assault allegations.

“I do think part of this is because Vegas is one of the most hated teams in hockey,” Rowe said. “They hate us because they ain’t us. I don’t think any of this would be going on if the Knights weren’t so successful right now.”