WARNING: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault, homophobia, misogyny, and racism.
The Stanley Cup Finals are finally underway as of this past Tuesday night. After another eventful season, the two remaining teams, the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights, are facing off to lift the Stanley Cup.
Many hockey fans, however, are calling it the worst Stanley Cup Final in history.
The Vegas Golden Knights have consistently ranked as the most hated National Hockey League team for the past few seasons. While hatred for this organization originally came about as a result of fan distaste for league expansion, it has certainly evolved into something more. A recent study of the United States revealed that 11 states have the Golden Knights as their least favorite team, three more than the second most hated team, the Colorado Avalanche. Recent events from this season certainly have not helped.
On Oct. 16, 2025, goalie Carter Hart was signed to a professional tryout agreement with the Golden Knights. Eight days later, on Oct. 24, Hart was signed to a two-year, $4 million contract with the organization. Hart has long been a controversial player as a result of his involvement in a trial against five hockey players from the 2018 Hockey Canada World Junior Championship team. The five players — Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod —, were accused of sexual assault by an anonymous woman referred to in court documents as E.M. She alleged that she was introduced to McLeod and had consensual sex with him, though she believes that she would not have done so if she were sober. She then says that the rest of those on trial entered the room, where the non-consensual acts took place.
The defendants were acquitted as a result of “insufficient evidence.” Acquittal is different from a ruling of not guilty, as a not guilty ruling means that the defendant did not commit the crime while an acquittal means that there is not enough evidence to prove the defendant is guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
On Sept. 11, 2025, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement that the players would be allowed to return to the league. The decision was met with outrage by some fans who claimed that the move worked in direct contrast to the league’s “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign, a move designed to increase viewership by minority groups. Fans said the move fostered an uncomfortable environment for women, a sentiment that has continued to resonate throughout the league. Hart’s attendance at games has been met with fan chants along the lines of “No means no, go Canes go” at Tuesday night’s Game 1.
In addition to Carter Hart, Golden Knights forward Brett Howden, while not on trial, was a witness allegedly involved in E.M.’s sexual assault, bringing further backlash to the team. The Carolina Hurricanes, too, have faced backlash, as their American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, signed Hockey Canada member Michael McLeod.
This situation is just one example of hockey’s lack of inclusivity. Hockey as a sport is known for its culture, both the good and the bad. While the sport itself is known to be wildly entertaining, the culture behind it is often criticized for a multitude of reasons, including homophobia, transphobia, racism and misogyny.
The National Hockey League is the only major sports league in North America without an openly LGBTQ+ player. Luke Prokop, a 24-year-old defenseman, was the first and only openly LGBTQ+ player to be signed to an NHL contract after coming out in 2021 while with the Edmonton Oilers, though he has yet to play an NHL game. In 2023, the NHL banned the use of Pride Tape, a rainbow replacement for the usually black or white tape wrapped on the ends of a hockey stick. The use of all other themed gear was also banned, a decision that was reversed only two weeks later after it was met with intense backlash.
In addition to LGBTQ+ players, the league has had only one woman player. Goalie Manon Rhéaume played a preseason game in 1992, and there has yet to be another woman in the league since. The Professional Women’s Hockey League was founded in just 2023, over a century after the founding of the NHL in 1917. Players in the PWHL make significantly less money than NHL players, with the average NHL salary being $3.5 million per year and the average PWHL salary being $58,000.
Other minorities are also far underrepresented in the NHL. A 2023 diversity report showed that 90% of the players in the league identify as white, with nearly 84% of the entire league, including office staff, identifying as a non-white race. Racism still runs rampant in hockey culture to this day, with Hockey Canada alone reporting that they received 1,641 allegations of discrimination in a three-year timespan, 511 of these being race-based discrimination.
For the National Hockey League, inclusion is still a long way away. From controversy over sexual assault to discrimination, there are still hundreds of steps to be taken in the right direction, and, to some, we’re taking steps in the opposite direction.