Carter Hart is the only player from the Team Canada junior scandal to have found an NHL-related job. He is currently with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Before playing for the Golden Knights at the end of his suspension, he has the right to get back into shape in the AHL. And yesterday, he played his first game for the Golden Knights academy club.
Against the Flames, he won 5-2, giving up two goals on 14 shots.
Carter Hart saved 12 of 14 shots for an .857 SV% in his season debut with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).
Henderson took down the Calgary Wranglers by a score of 5-2, earning Hart the win. pic.twitter.com/8SZjGqPXNR
– PuckEmpire (@puckempire) November 17, 2025
The match was held in Nevada, in Henderson (so home for the Silver Knights) yesterday. And clearly, the fans on hand were really happy to see the goalie.
In particular, Hart was seen receiving the support of the fans as he entered the rink.
Carter Hart is making his Henderson Silver Knights debut tonight. First professional hockey game since the 2023-24 season.
– PuckEmpire (@puckempire) November 17, 2025
Then, when it came time to introduce the starting lineup, fans gave a warm welcome to the man who has faced justice in recent months.
There may have been some disgruntled folks… but if so, they were in the minority in the arena.
Warm welcome for Carter Hart as he's announced as the starting goaltender. pic.twitter.com/lLNuAEZK4o
– Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) November 17, 2025
Looking at this, it's easy to see why Hart and his colleagues (who haven't signed in the NHL and may never do so) haven't signed with a club in Canada.
After all, it's easy to think that if Hart had played for a Canadian club yesterday, the reaction would have been different.
Does it make you uneasy to see the reaction to Hart? Would you have reacted in the same way as the people there if you'd had a ticket for yesterday's game?
Remember that in a few weeks, he'll be eligible to play in Vegas. How will the Vegas crowd react? How will the crowd on the road react to the man who was just happy to play hockey yesterday?
Carter Hart on getting his professional hockey return:
“I haven't played a game in a long time, so everything kind of felt different, but then once I started going a little bit, I started to get back into some certain routines that I haven't done for a long time. It's just like..
– Cooper Krigbaum (@CooperKrigbaum) November 17, 2025
overtime
– What's in store for him?
Last season, he took Traktor to the Gagarin Cup final
pic.twitter.com/X0oRdm5HzZ
– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) November 17, 2025
– Interesting.
Kempe contract:
26-27: $1M salary, $11M signing bonus
27-28: $1M salary, $11M SB
28-29: $1M salary, $11 SB
29-30: $2.5M salary, $9.5M SB
30-31: $9.75M salary
31-32: $9.75M salary
32-33: $8.75M salary
33-34: $8.75M salary
SB total: $42.5M
Salary total: $42.5M
AAV: $10.625M– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 17, 2025
– Read more.
Canadiens weekly notebook is out! What a crappy week for the Canadiens, right?
– Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) November 17, 2025
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