Kane cleared in rape case
The NHL ruled that an off- season rape allegation made against Patrick Kane was unfounded in determining that the Chicago Blackhawks star forward will not face any league disciplinary action.
The league issued a one- paragraph statement Wednesday announcing it had completed its independent review of the allegations against Kane. The final step of the investigation occurred on Monday, when Kane met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in New York.
“Based on its review ... the NHL has concluded that the allegations made against Kane were unfounded,” the NHL announced. “The league considers the matter closed and will have no further comment.”
In November, after a three- month investigation, Erie County Dist. Atty. Frank Sedita ruled against pursuing charges against Kane by citing a lack of credible evidence in a case he found “rife with reasonable doubt.” The accuser also signed an affidavit saying she did not want to press charges, prosecutors said.
The investigation began in August, when Kane was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s at his off- season home outside of Buffalo, N. Y.
In 68 games this season, Kane leads the NHL with 89 points and his 38 goals rank second.
The New York Islanders will be without starting goalie Jaroslav Halak for the next six weeks because of a lower- body injury. Halak left the Islanders’ 2- 1 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday night with 4: 22 remaining with an apparent groin injury.
Thomas Greiss, who f inished the win over the Penguins to help Halak get his 200th career victory, will probably get the bulk of the starts the rest of the regular season and into the start of the playoffs.
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jarred Tinordi has been suspended for 20 games without pay for violating terms of the NHL’s performance- enhancing substances program.
San Antonio Spurs Chief Executive and Chairman Peter Holt, whose self less ownership is credited with helping the team win five NBA championships, is retiring after 20 years running one of sports’ elite franchises.
He will be replaced as CEO by his wife, Julianna, and, at her request, Rick Pych, Spurs president of business operations.
In a player move, the Spurs have signed veteran shooting guard Kevin Martin and waived forward Rasual Butler. Martin was bought out by the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 1
Doctors are pleased at the pace Tony Stewart’s broken back is healing and have given the threetime NASCAR champion a rehabilitation program designed to get him back in a race car.
Stewart was injured Jan. 31 in an all- terrain vehicle accident. He suffered a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra and has missed the start of the season, his last as a NASCAR driver.
Stewart- Haas Racing said Wednesday there is no timetable for Stewart’s return. Ty Dillon will drive the No. 14 Chevrolet this weekend at Phoenix.