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'No means no': Fans target Carter Hart in Stanley Cup Final

Offside Staff
Offside Staff
|
Jun 3 2026, 5:56 pm
'No means no': Fans target Carter Hart in Stanley Cup Final
James Guillory/Imagn Images

Carter Hart was greeted by a hostile crowd in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night.

During the second period at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, Carolina Hurricanes fans broke into a loud “no means no” chant directed at the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender.

Hart was one of five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault in London, Ont. All five players were acquitted by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia in 2025.

While the legal proceedings have concluded, the reaction from opposing fan bases has shown that public scrutiny surrounding Hart largely remains. The 27-year-old has heard similar remarks from crowds throughout the playoffs, and Tuesday’s Stanley Cup Final opener was no exception.


Despite the hostile environment, Hart kept his composure and helped lead the Golden Knights to a 5-4 victory. He kicked aside 25 of the 29 shots he faced.

Though he was able to pick up the win, the vast majority of conversation on social media afterward focused on the chants he faced from ‘Canes fans. It’s undoubtedly going to continue being a storyline for the remainder of this series.

With Game 2 set for Thursday in Carolina, Hart, along with fans tuning in, shouldn’t expect the crowd at Lenovo Centre to lighten up. If anything, they will likely try to do even more to get under the 27-year-old’s skin in hopes of giving the Hurricanes an advantage.

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