Hush Culture in Hockey
In this courtroom sketch, defendant Carter Hart, left, is questioned by defense attorney Hilary Dudding during the trial of five hockey players accused of sexual assault, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in London, Ontario. (Alexandra Newbould/The Canadian Press via AP)
Hockey goaltender Carter Hart was acquitted of sexual assault charges this summer, after prosecutors said they could not meet the burden of proof. But, an acquittal is not the same as accountability—and Hart’s return to the league has reopened a familiar debate about how hockey confronts, or avoids, sexual violence.
The court of public opinion tells a different story. Fans, survivors and analysts alike are split—because in hockey, celebrity status and winning records routinely soften the social consequences of allegations, regardless if cases reach a guilty or not-guilty verdict.
The NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights signed goalie Carter Hart after a professional tryout on Oct. 16. Hart was acquitted of sexual assault charges in summer 2025 following a 2018 incident involving four other Canada World Junior’s national team players.
On Oct. 24, the Vegas Golden Knights and Hart agreed on a 2-year, $4 million contract. He is eligible to play starting Dec. 1. Before his NHL suspension in Jan. 2024 following accusations of sexual assault/harassment against him, Hart’s previous contract was for three years, and worth almost $12 million.
The Vegas Golden Knights released a statement following the decision to sign Hart. The team noted that they “remain committed to the core values that have defined our organization from its inception.”
The Vegas Golden Knights’ core values have always been rooted in community and rebuilding—the deadliest mass shooting in American history occurred in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, and the inaugural home game was played in T-Mobile Arena on Oct. 10, 2017.
The Knights’ connection with the city has always been about healing a devastated community. In my opinion, signing Carter Hart goes against the values of putting the community first. I hold the Knights to a higher standard than other sports teams because they have always been about community healing.
Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland delivered his famous “Vegas Strong” speech at the home opener in 2017, stepping into a leadership role before the team had a captain. The mantra “Vegas Strong” echoed throughout the team’s inaugural season resulting in a history-making Stanley Cup Cinderella run. “To the families and friends of the victims, we'll do everything we can to help you and our city heal. We are Vegas Strong,” Engelland said.
The NHL has experienced growth in the female fan demographic with 37% of fans being women in 2022, according to AP News. The NHL’s decision to allow the five players acquitted of sexual assault charges to sign could potentially isolate the female fan base. The Knights very much hid behind the league in their statement saying, “the Golden Knights are aligned with the process and assessment the NHL and NHLPA made in their decision.”
“The only true core value in the NHL is money,” said Lexi LaFleur Brown—author and wife of former NHL player J.T. Brown—in response to the Hart signing. “I wish hockey loved women as much as it loves signing bargain players.”
“The NHL is the only of the four major North American sports leagues without a specific domestic violence policy. The league handles each incident on a case-by-case basis,” said Emily Kaplan for ESPN. The three other leagues are the MLB, NBA and NFL. In my eyes, this lack of policy sets up a culture of sexual violence to fester because players know there is no certainty they will be removed from the league following accusations.
Flimsy responses to sexual violence are not new for hockey. The Chicago Blackhawks organization was aware of complaints of sexual assault regarding an incident involving former player Kyle Beach and then-coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. Instead of addressing the situation, Beach alleges the team chose to focus on winning the Stanley Cup, according to an article from NPR. The thorough cover-up of this situation is the part I find to be terrifying. Beach reported the assault to management, but executives decided not to report or investigate until after the playoffs, effectively prioritizing a win over a serious issue.
Kyle Beach’s assault demonstrates how the NHL has a history of prioritizing winning and money over proper investigations and seeking justice for survivors.
Plaintiff E.M. filed a civil court case against Hockey Canada in 2018 following the World Junior’s incident, resulting in an undisclosed settlement in 2022. Police later reopened the case, charging the five players with sexual assault. The second court case, the criminal case, resulted in temporary suspensions from the NHL and was resolved in the summer of 2025. All five players plead not guilty.
Hockey Canada, the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada, has been brought to the forefront of sexual assault and consent conversations in the hockey world. Police investigations of sexual assault incidents have centered around Canada junior ice players at least 15 times since 1989. These investigations have all been group sexual assault scandals.
I hold so much love for the Vegas Golden Knights, but I cannot accept their decision to sign Carter Hart. This event adds to an ever-growing list of sexual assault related instances that the NHL has not condemned.