Flyers Alumni

Former Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Has Trial Date Set for Early 2025

Published

3 weeks ago

November 12, 2024

(Photo: AP)

According to a report from Paul D. Grant of Sportsnet, a judge ruled Tuesday that the trial for the five players on the 2018 Hockey Canada team charged with sexual assault, including former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart, will begin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Grant added that the trial, which is expected to take two months, will take place in London, Ont., immediately after the jury is selected. A proposed trial date of Sept. 2025 was rejected by the judge.

This means that the five players could receive their verdicts before the start of the 2025 NHL free agency.

Hart, 26, last played for the Flyers on Jan. 20, 2024, allowing five goals on 15 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Three days later, on Jan. 23, Hart took an indefinite personal leave of absence and was confirmed to have been charged with one count of sexual assault on Jan. 30.

Flyers ‘Figured’ Something Would Happen With Carter Hart

Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote were each charged with one count of sexual assault. Michael McLeod was charged with sexual assault in addition to a separate charge related to aiding a perpetrator in the offence. These charges have not been proven in court.

As they awaited a trial date, McLeod, Foote, and Dube were able to continue their professional playing careers overseas in the KHL. McLeod signed with Barys Astana – that contract has since been terminated – and Dube signed with HC Dinamo Minsk.

Foote has been playing with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas in Slovakia. According to court documents, Formenton has turned his back on his professional playing career. That leaves Hart, who started 25 games for the Flyers last season, as the lone player whose status is up in the air.

The Globe and Mail previously acquired an attestation made by Hart where he revealed, “I have been previously denied entry to the United States due to my criminal charge.”

Grant reports that the next batch of pre-trial motions is scheduled to start on Nov. 25 in London.