Kane greeted warmly at Hawks scrimmage
SOUTH BEND, IND.— Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was greeted with loud cheers Friday in his first public appearance with the Stanley Cup champions since he became the subject of a sexual assault investigation.
Kane reported for the start of training camp at Notre Dame, and the all-star forward got a warm reception when he joined “Team B” for the first of two scrimmages. There was another loud roar from the crowd of about 4,000 when he was recognized over the public address system for the secondary assist on the first goal.
“That’s a pretty cool reaction, especially given the circumstances,” Kane said. “I didn’t really know what to expect. To hear that reaction from the crowd, definitely gave me chills. So it was an exciting moment.”
Kane is accused of assaulting a woman in her 20s in August at his off-season home outside Buffalo, N.Y., a person familiar with the investigation has told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because police have not revealed details of the case
No charges have been filed, and Kane said Thursday he has done nothing wrong.
The play of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft has never been an issue, though his off-the-ice problems included an altercation with a cab driver in Buffalo in the summer of 2009.
Friday’s reception was a much different picture than the awkward news conference on Thursday when Kane was pressed on the decision to come to camp despite the ongoing investigation. He also was asked if he planned to stop drinking, and he stuck to the same answer — declaring his appreciation for the question, and then declining to comment due to his respect for the legal process.