RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) 鈥� Speaking on the eve of the Stanley Cup Final, goaltender Carter Hart said Monday he has learned and grown a lot since after he and four other players were reinstated by the NHL following their acquittals in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case.
in large part because he is the only one of the five players to sign a contract in the league. He addressed the situation after joining the Golden Knights in October but has spoken only about hockey since.
He was asked on Cup Final media day about comments he made in the fall and how he has learned and grown since then.
鈥淚鈥檝e been able to meet a lot of good people in the community,鈥� Hart said. “I think the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation has done a really good job of making it easy for me to integrate into the community and meet a lot of cool people. Just really fortunate to be here in Vegas. It鈥檚 a great culture of people. Like I said, I鈥檝e met a lot of cool people and just very fortunate to be here in Las Vegas and with this group.鈥�
Hart’s session was ended after his answer. General manager Kelly McCrimmon, who chose to sign Hart to a , was asked about the thought process and took issue with the notion that the 27-year-old goalie came with baggage.
鈥淲e went through a lengthy process of due diligence with Carter,鈥� McCrimmon said. 鈥淐arter is a really good person. He鈥檚 ingrained himself in our community. He鈥檚 a player that I鈥檝e known a long time, long prior to him becoming an NHL player. Playing very well. Obviously a big part of how our team is at this point that we鈥檙e at today, and he鈥檚 fit in seamlessly with his teammates.鈥�
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