Carter Hart’s hockey future takes another dramatic turn as the Golden Knights goaltender remains suspended by Hockey Canada through 2027 despite being acquitted in the high-profile sexual assault case.
Carter Hart’s return to international hockey just got pushed further into the distance.
The Vegas Golden Knights goaltender will remain barred from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs through November 2027 after an independent appeal board upheld a finding that he violated the organization’s code of conduct stemming from the 2018 Canadian world junior team.
Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that the lengthy appeal process tied to an independent adjudicative panel’s November 2023 report has officially concluded. The appeal board confirmed that Hart and four other members of Canada’s 2018 national junior team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.
Hart’s suspension will remain in place through Nov. 10, 2027. He had already been formally suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs while the appeal process played out.
The ruling also established different suspension lengths for the other four players involved.
Cal Foote will remain suspended through Nov. 10, 2026, while Dillon Dubé’s suspension extends through Nov. 10, 2028. Michael McLeod received the longest suspension, keeping him out of Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs through Nov. 10, 2030.
Alex Formenton, meanwhile, was reinstated immediately.
The decision comes more than a year after Hart, Formenton, Foote, Dubé and McLeod were acquitted in July 2025 in the widely publicized sexual assault case involving an incident at a London, Ontario, hotel in 2018.
While the criminal case ended with acquittals, Hockey Canada’s separate disciplinary process continued. The organization’s independent investigation ultimately determined that Hart, Foote, Dubé, McLeod and Formenton had violated its code of conduct.
The investigation did not find that any other member of Canada’s 2018 world junior team had breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.
Those players are therefore eligible to be considered for Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs immediately. Their potential return to the national team, however, will not be completely straightforward.
Any player under consideration to represent Canada internationally will be subjected to Hockey Canada’s enhanced screening process. As part of that process, a third party will review the findings connected to the 2018 team before the player can officially represent the country.
For Hart, the ruling creates another significant roadblock in his international career.
The 27-year-old goaltender signed with the Golden Knights this offseason after spending the 2025-26 season with the Philadelphia Flyers. While his NHL career can continue, his path back to Hockey Canada will remain closed for more than another year.
With the appeal process now finished, the suspensions handed down to the five players represent Hockey Canada’s final disciplinary decisions stemming from the investigation.
For Hart, that means the wait continues until Nov. 10, 2027.
