Patrick Kane

Patrick Timothy Kane, Jr. (born November 19, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Minor and junior
Kane attended the St. Martin of Tours school, started playing for the Cazenovia Chiefs in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. He played for the West Seneca Wings, Buffalo Regals, and Depew Saints.

When Kane was fourteen he played junior hockey for the USA Bobcats, scoring many goals and earning the title of MVP. Kane relocated to Michigan where he lived with former NHL player, Pat Verbeek, having been convinced to play for the Honeybaked AAA hockey club in Detroit. The club is a part of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. Kane's career with Honeybaked lasted for 3 years.

The London Knights drafted Kane in the 5th round of the 2004 Ontario Hockey League Midget Draft, but he did not choose to play for the Knights until the 2006–07 season. Instead, Kane played for the United States U-18 National Team Development Program (NTDP) where he led the team in scoring with 102 points during the 2005–06 season. Playing on a line with Sergei Kostitsyn and Sam Gagner, he amassed 145 points for the OHL scoring title and combined with Gagner and Kostitsyn for 394 points.

Kane and the Knights finished the post-season losing in the OHL's Western Conference final to the Plymouth Whalers in a 4-1 best of 7 series loss. He finished his postseason with 10 goals and 21 assists for a total of 31 points in 16 games.

On April 27, 2007, Kane was announced as the winner of the Emms Family Award for the OHL rookie of the year. He was also named runner-up to John Tavares for the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP.

Kane threw the Ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game on June 25, 2007, at Wrigley Field. Kane later joined Denis Savard, the Blackhawks' coach, in singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game later during the day. Kane also threw the first pitch at a Buffalo Bisons (AAA) game in August.

NHL career
Going into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Kane was ranked 2nd among North American prospects by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and was chosen first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.

On July 25, 2007, Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon announced that they had signed right winger Patrick Kane to a three year contract. He made his NHL debut on October 4, 2007, against the Minnesota Wild, and had his first assist and first shootout goal, a game-winner, two days later against Dominik Hasek of the Detroit Red Wings. On October 19, 2007, he scored his first NHL regulation time goal on José Théodore of the Colorado Avalanche. With a quick start to his rookie campaign, Kane was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for October on November 2, 2007, after tallying 5 goals and 11 assists in 12 games. On December 15, 2007, Kane and the Blackhawks visited the Buffalo Sabres for a regular season game. It was the first time Kane had come back to Buffalo as a pro hockey player. Kane received a special cheer from his hometown and a special ceremony was held before the game. The Blackhawks lost the game 3-1 with Kane scoring their lone goal.

Kane finished his first NHL campaign atop the rookie scoring race with 72 points. On June 12, 2008, he received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie player finishing ahead of teammate Jonathan Toews and Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Bäckström.

The following season, Kane and Toews helped lead a rejuvenated Blackhawks team back to the playoffs. After recording 70 points in the regular season, Kane notched his first career hat trick in the 2009 playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks in the second round on May 11, 2009. The Blackhawks won the game 7-5, and clinched their spot to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 1995. After the game, Kane told the Chicago Sun-Times that he was "fired up" after Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell claimed that Kane "couldn't play five-on-five." He finished his first NHL playoffs with 14 points in 16 games as the Blackhawks were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the Detroit Red Wings.

In May 2009, the Chicago Tribune reported that Kane would be the cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL 10.

In the final season of his initial rookie contract, Kane signed a 5-year, reported $31.5 million extension to remain with the Blackhawks on December 3, 2009. The deal was announced simultaneously with contract extensions to both Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith, as well.

On June 9, 2010 Patrick Kane scored the overtime winner when he shot the puck under the pads of Flyers goalie Michael Leighton and into the net, winning the Blackhawks the Stanley Cup. The goal ended a 49-year Stanley Cup drought for the Blackhawks. It also made Kane the youngest person in NHL history to score a Stanley Cup winning goal in overtime, that title once belonged to Bobby Orr in 1970.

Kane was selected as an alternate captain for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game.

International play
Kane competes internationally for the United States. He first represented the United States in the 2006 IIHF U18 Championships in which he led the tournament in scoring with 12 points (five goals and seven assists) in only six games played. His two points per game pace led the United States to the gold medal, and earned him individual all-star team honors.

The next year, he moved onto the United States' U20 team at the 2007 World Juniors. He was one of only three players on the team to be playing major junior hockey. He continued his international pace with five goals and four assists in seven games to finish second in tournament scoring and once again garner an all-star team selection. His team did not perform as well as his U18 team, but they did manage to go home with the bronze medal. After making the NHL and being unable to play in the 2008 WJC due to professional commitments with the Chicago Blackhawks, he played in the 2008 World Championships. He posted 10 points (three goals and seven assists) in seven games as the United States finished fifth.

Kane was selected to represent the United States in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, where he and the team won the Silver Medal. During the tournament he scored three goals and two assists in six games.

Personal life
He is the son of Patrick and Donna Kane. He also has three sisters named Erica, Jessica and Jacqueline. During the offseason, Patrick stays at his childhood home in Buffalo with his family.

Patrick has an endorsement deal with Bauer Hockey. He uses Bauer equipment during games.

Assault and theft charges
On August 9, 2009, Kane and his cousin, James M. Kane, were arrested in Buffalo. According to a police report, Kane was apprehended around 5:00 a.m. after allegedly punching cab driver Jan Radecki when he claimed to not have proper change for their trip fare. Kane and his cousin's cab fare came out to be $13.80 and they gave him $15.00.

Kane was charged with second-degree robbery, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and theft of services. He pleaded not guilty. On August 17, Kane apologized for the distress he caused, saying he had been "at the wrong place at the wrong time," and mentioned his family, the Chicago Blackhawks organization, and their fan base&mdash;but not Radecki. Kane and his cousin appeared before a grand jury on August 19. While they were cleared of any felony charges, the two were still indicted on less severe misdemeanor assault, theft and harassment charges. Kane and his cousin reiterated their not guilty pleas when appearing in court the next day. On August 27, Kane and cousin pleaded guilty to noncriminal disorderly conduct charges, and were both given conditional discharges, avoiding any penalties if they stay out of trouble for a year, and also ordered to apologize to Radecki.

Awards and achievements

 * 2006 U18 All-Star Team
 * OHL All-Rookie Team (2007)
 * OHL First All-Star Team (2007)
 * OHL Rookie of the Year (2007)
 * CHL Rookie of the Year (2007)
 * 2007 WJC All-Star Team
 * NHL All-Rookie Team (2008)
 * Calder Memorial Trophy (2008)
 * Played in Two All-Star Games (2009,2011)
 * Second Star of the Week, December 20–26, 2009
 * Third Star of the Month, December 2009
 * 2010 Winter Olympics silver medal
 * 2010 Stanley Cup champion
 * 2010 First Team NHL All-Star