Hurricanes Fans Threaten to Cancel Tickets if Hart or McLeod Signed

The NHL has granted a return to eligibility as of Dec. 1 for the five former Canadian World Junior players who were acquitted in the high-profile sexual assault trial this summer. But that doesn't mean it's smooth sailing for the players—or any team considering signing them.

In Raleigh, Carolina Hurricanes fans have organized a group and a petition threatening to cancel their season tickets if the team signs either Michael McLeod or Carter Hart (whom they are rumored to have serious interest in).

"We’re done with the Canes if that happens," one fan said.

A group of Carolina Hurricanes fans are threatening to cancel their season tickets amid rumors of the team's interest in some of the "Hockey Canada 5" players acquitted of sexual assault this summer.

"We’re done with the Canes if that happens," one fan tells FOS.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 23, 2025

Front Office Sports reports that season ticket holders have sent the following letter to the Hurricanes, stating their position in no uncertain terms:

We are writing as loyal season ticket members to make one point absolutely clear: if this team signs Michael McLeod, we will not renew our season tickets. Like any Caniac, we want the Cup — but not at the expense of the morals, principles, and reputation of this franchise. Signing him would send an irreversible message — that women's safety, girlhood, and dignity do not matter to the Front Office, coaching staff, or players who would share the ice with him.

Ashlie Clayton, who sent the letter along with her husband, indicated that her 14- and 16-year-old kids have already lost interest in the team.

Also worth a mention: #GenAlpha is built different. My teens learned about this—and their team interest has practically vanished.

They went from die-hard fans, watching games on their phone while out w/ friends to being absolutely repulsed.

This ain’t a good look. @CanesPR.
— Ashlie (@onlyhere4canes) September 24, 2025

1,350 people have also signed an online petition started by another fan urging the team to "reject the acquitted Team Canada players."

Mark Lazerus reports in The Athletic, however, that the Hurricanes, internally, began considering the possibility of signing the players after the judge in the case made a specific declaration within her acquittal ruling:

"A team source, who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity so they could talk candidly about sensitive information, was very clear that the organization isn’t merely writing off the incident as just “kids being kids” but noted there’s a significant difference between distasteful and criminal. The matter of consent was at the heart of the trial, and (Justice) Carroccia’s determination that there was clear consent opened the door to the team at least considering signing the players."

Contracts for any of the 'Hockey Canada Five' can be registered with the NHL as of October 15th, and the players can begin a conditioning regimen with the signing team soon after, and are eligible to return to actual NHL action as of December 1.

It sounds like the Hurricanes have a huge decision looming, not only for their roster, but for the potential "public relations baggage," as Lazerus puts it.