PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 04: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers tends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the Wells Fargo Center on December 04, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart has been named as one of the five players called to surrender to police in London, Ont., to be charged for their involvement in the alleged sexual assault that happened during a Hockey Canada event in June 2018, reports TSN’s Rick Westhead.
In response to the news, General Manager Daniel Briere and the club moved Hart to non-roster. Opening a roster spot for any other player. The Flyers currently sit at 22/23 roster spots available. CapFriendly.com reported.
According to section 16.12 of the NHL collective bargaining agreement, “a Player who is unavailable to play due to reasons other than injury, illness or disability will be designated a Non-Roster Player, and during such period of his designation as such he will not count against the Club’s Active Roster limit and his Club may replace such Player, provided, however, that the Non-Roster Player’s Player Salary and Bonuses and his replacement’s Player Salary and Bonuses are each included in calculating a Club’s Actual Club Salary and Averaged Club Salary, and the Players’ Share.”
Hart’s defence counsel (Savard Foy LLP) have confirmed he has been charged with one count of sexual assault and say he will provide a “full response to this false allegation in the proper forum, a court of law.” Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.
TSN’s Rick Westhead reported on Tuesday that four NHLers – Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube & Cal Foote – have been publicly directed to surrender to London police to be charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident that occurred during a 2018 Hockey Canada event.
If Hart or the other four individuals had plans to leave the country, they would need a valid US Entry Waiver. “If a Canadian wants to enter the United States with a pending criminal charge, the only way they can legally avoid the risk of a border denial is if they have a valid US Entry Waiver.”
Gary Ellis, former head of Toronto Police Service’s sex crimes unit, told TSN that the players would be photographed, fingerprinted, and directed to sign an undertaking not to have contact with the alleged victim, Rick Westhead reported.
A trial for the investigation isn’t expected to happen before 2026, which adds almost another two years to an already six-year-long legal issue. There will be more updates after the London Police hold a press conference on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 2 p.m.
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