So he’s 21 years old, and he’s scored a Stanley Cup winning goal. In overtime. The only thing that could have made Patrick Kane’s goal a bigger deal is if it had been a Game Seven overtime Stanley Cup winning goal.
But it’s still a pretty big deal….and it got me thinking. Is this the biggest accomplishment ever in sports by an athlete who’s from Buffalo? How does it stack up against other memorable moments, memorable games, memorable seasons, or memorable careers?
I think its right up there. But just for comparison sake, here are a few others.
If there was one game that Sabres fans must of circled when the schedule came out over the Summer, it’s tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere at the Arena for a game that Sabres fans can only see once every three years (Another reason why the NHL higher-ups are idiots).
Of course the big storyline going into the game is the homecoming of Buffalo native, Patrick Kane, and the return of former Sabre, Brian Campbell. Besides the duo returning home, the Blackhawks sport one of the best teams in the West (and even better uniforms)
I guess you really can find anything on the internet.
As many hockey fans, especially those in WNY already know, South Buffalo native Patrick Kane had a run-in with a cab driver in downtown Buffalo this summer. Someone posted a video on YouTube poking fun via the video game Grand Theft Auto. It’s quickly making its rounds around the net.
At first glance we were slightly repulsed. But after watching again, we now find it damn funny. So here ya go.
It’s been an exciting first few weeks for South Buffalo native Patrick Kane and his Chicago Blackhawks’ teammates. Chicago is off to a decent start, currently third in the Western Conference with 11 points and a 5-3-1 record. Kane has been a huge factor towards achieving that success, leading the team in shots on goal with 32. Chicago itself is second in the NHL in shots. And like Wayne Gretzky famously said “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Kane is also second on the team in assists (5) and points (8).
There’s been quite a few Kane/Hawks stories flying around the world wide web during this October, here’s some of the best.
It’s been an exciting first couple of weeks for Patrick Kane and his Chicago Blackhawks’ teammates. Chicago has a Western Conference leading 11 points and a 5-1-1 record. Kane has been a huge factor in that success, as he leads the team in shots on goal with 26, is tied with Patrick Sharp for the team lead in assists (4), and is second to Sharp in points with 7. There’s been quite a few Kane/Hawks stories flying around the world wide web during the first half of October, here’s some of the best. Bear Market Business
The Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bears announced Wednesday a historic partnership between the two franchises, marking the first of its kind between an Original Six National Hockey League team and a founding franchise of the National Football League.
For Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks, a nice, quietly productive training camp was exactly what the doctor ordered. After an arrest hurt his image, but left his personal freedom and financial bottom line pretty much unscathed, the focus surrounding Kane is back on hockey. Which is exactly the way he, and his organization, like it. Kane’s Coach, Joel Quenneville, has talked quite a bit about the young wing’s improved speed and added size. I recently asked the star player himself about it. “I do feel faster, I feel like this is the hardest I’ve ever worked this past summer, so hopefully it will pay off on the ice,” he responded.
It’s known as the “Grand Tour,” a rite of passage for college kids. Upon completion of college, or perhaps during the summer in-between, college students often go sightseeing in continental Europe. Patrick Kane, and many of his Chicago Blackhawks teammates are college age or younger. Since they find themselves playing in the NHL instead of going away to school, they can consider this week’s trip to Switzerland and Finland, their Grand Tour.
On Monday afternoon, the Blackhawks played the first of two European exhibition contests at Zurich’s Hallenstadion Arena against HC Davos. Chicago won Monday’s contest 9-2; including two goals from star left-wing Patrick Kane, who I had an exclusive with back in Chicago, just before the team flew across the pond.
It was the biggest, and most unfortunate, news to hit the Chicago Blackhawks in weeks.
“Adam Burish went into the boards on Sunday night in Minnesota and injured his right knee. When a player like him leaves the ice it is always concerning and unfortunately he suffered an ACL tear. He will undergo a reconstruction as soon as possible and we anticipate a complete recovery. His return will take approximately six months,” reads a statement from Chicago Blackhawks Head Team Physician Dr. Michael Terry.
“I went into the boards goofy. It was one of those goofy plays, I was helpless,” said Burish to a very large crowd of reporters after the team’s practice on Tuesday. Fellow forward and South Buffalo resident Patrick Kane, certainly no stranger to recent heightened publicity, spoke about his fallen teammate:
Following an off-season that even the most optimistic person would describe as excruciatingly disastrous, Patrick Kane has something extremely positive to look forward to. The EA Sports video game NHL 10, with the Chicago Blackhawks right wing on the cover, hits North American retail stores Tuesday, September 15th.
A native of Buffalo, NY, Kane is just the second American-born player to be featured on the cover of the top-selling EA Sports hockey videogame franchise. New York Rangers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck was the first when he was featured on the cover of NHL 97. Kane is the youngest player ever chosen for the cover of the NHL franchise and his image will front all packaging related to NHL 10.
The physical image of Kane remains on the product, despite the public image of Kane suffering a huge black eye last month. You’ll remember on August 9, Kane and his cousin, James M. Kane, were arrested in Buffalo for allegedly assaulting a taxicab driver.
They were eventually cleared of any felony charges, but indictments on less severe misdemeanor assault, theft and harassment charges still loomed overhead. On August 27, the Kanes pleaded guilty to non-criminal disorderly conduct charges, and the court ordered them to issue an apology to the driver. So essentially, the storm has passed from a legal perspective.
So he’s 21 years old, and he’s scored a Stanley Cup winning goal. In overtime. The only thing that could have made Patrick Kane’s goal a bigger deal is if it had been a Game Seven overtime Stanley Cup winning goal.
It’s been an exciting first few weeks for South Buffalo native Patrick Kane and his Chicago Blackhawks’ teammates. Chicago is off to a decent start, currently third in the Western Conference with 11 points and a 5-3-1 record. Kane has been a huge factor towards achieving that success, leading the team in shots on goal with 32. Chicago itself is second in the NHL in shots. And like Wayne Gretzky famously said “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Kane is also second on the team in assists (5) and points (8).
It’s been an exciting first couple of weeks for Patrick Kane and his Chicago Blackhawks’ teammates. Chicago has a Western Conference leading 11 points and a 5-1-1 record. Kane has been a huge factor in that success, as he leads the team in shots on goal with 26, is tied with Patrick Sharp for the team lead in assists (4), and is second to Sharp in points with 7. There’s been quite a few Kane/Hawks stories flying around the world wide web during the first half of October, here’s some of the best.
For Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks, a nice, quietly productive training camp was exactly what the doctor ordered. After an arrest hurt his image, but left his personal freedom and financial bottom line pretty much unscathed, the focus surrounding Kane is back on hockey. Which is exactly the way he, and his organization, like it. Kane’s Coach, Joel Quenneville, has talked quite a bit about the young wing’s improved speed and added size. I recently asked the star player himself about it. “I do feel faster, I feel like this is the hardest I’ve ever worked this past summer, so hopefully it will pay off on the ice,” he responded.
It’s known as the “Grand Tour,” a rite of passage for college kids. Upon completion of college, or perhaps during the summer in-between, college students often go sightseeing in continental Europe. Patrick Kane, and many of his Chicago Blackhawks teammates are college age or younger. Since they find themselves playing in the NHL instead of going away to school, they can consider this week’s trip to Switzerland and Finland, their Grand Tour.
It was the biggest, and most unfortunate, news to hit the Chicago Blackhawks in weeks.
Following an off-season that even the most optimistic person would describe as excruciatingly disastrous, Patrick Kane has something extremely positive to look forward to. The EA Sports video game NHL 10, with the Chicago Blackhawks right wing on the cover, hits North American retail stores Tuesday, September 15th.
