TSN Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart had been directed to surrender to police in London, Ontario, to face charges stemming from the investigation into alleged sexual assault involving the 2018 Team Canada World Juniors team.
Hart, 25, along with Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils and Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames, are expected to surrender before the Feb. 5 press conference held by the London Police Service. Former Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton has already surrendered.
Hart is the only player among the five who has not been designated “non-roster” status by his team. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere could not offer further comment on the matter during his midseason media availability on Jan. 24, after reports of the order of five previously unnamed players to surrender to police were made public.
The Flyers GM’s media availability had already been scheduled for that day and was not related to the reports.
Briere read a prepared statement explaining the NHL’s directive to all clubs and players regarding the Hockey Canada reports. The league’s directive asked players and members of organizations to refrain from comment and to direct questions about the investigation to the NHL.
The five players have been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a London hotel in June 2018 following a Hockey Canada event. None of the allegations against the five players have been proven in court or otherwise.
Westhead also notes that “. . . the players would be photographed, fingerprinted, and directed to sign an undertaking not to have contact with the alleged victim, either the first time they report to police or at a subsequent date.”
Hart took a leave of absence from the Flyers on Jan. 23. The 2016 second-round pick is currently in the final year of a three-year, $11.937 million contract he signed with the Flyers on Aug. 9, 2021. Hart will be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
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