Carter Hart’s Health: Carter Hart, the Philadelphia Flyers’ goalkeeper, has recently taken an extended leave of absence for personal reasons. This comes after he struggled with an unexplained illness that led to significant weight loss and limited his playing time in December.
Speculation has arisen about the reason for Carter Hart’s absence, with some connecting it to his suspected involvement in a 2018 controversy. Hart, a Canadian professional ice hockey goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers, has had a remarkable career, achieving various milestones and accolades.
Hart’s recent performance in goal has been unpredictable, particularly highlighted in a game against the Colorado Avalanche where he allowed five goals and was substituted in the third period. Despite this, his overall season statistics remain impressive. He had previously suffered from a severe illness in December 2023, causing him to miss 19 days of play and lose a significant amount of weight.
According to a statement by Hart to Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia, he has identified the cause of his health issues and is working towards resolving them. Coach John Tortorella also confirmed that Hart had no current medical issues after missing a practice on January 23, 2024.
The Speculation Surrounding Carter Hart’s Absence
There has been much speculation about the reason behind Hart’s leave of absence. One such theory connects it to a lawsuit filed against Hockey Canada in 2022, regarding sexual abuse allegations against members of the 2018 World Junior Championship squad, in which Hart played a key role as the starting goalkeeper.
Despite the case being resolved in May 2022 and an NHL investigation initiated, there has been no further update on this matter. On January 21, both Carter Hart and Dillon Dube, a Calgary Flames forward and a teammate of Hart in the 2018 Canadian squad, took indefinite leaves of absence, with the Flames citing mental health reasons for Dube’s absence. However, there is no evidence linking Hart’s and Dube’s absences. It’s important to note that no official reason has been given for Hart’s leave of absence, and any speculation is just guesswork.