Chicago winter sports icon Patrick Kane is currently under investigation for sexual assault. In spite of this very serious situation, he will still be at Chicago Blackhawks training camp. The team will begin their preseason preparation Friday in South Bend, Indiana on the Notre Dame University campus. Players are due to report tomorrow.
The Blackhawks released their preseason roster today and the name Patrick Kane was included. A Blackhawks spokesperson said that every name on the listย “all players listed on the roster released are expected to attend camp.”
This development is unexpected to say the least. In all of sports news, this will likely be the most surprising thing that we’ll hear today.ย Patrick Kane has not spoken publicly sinceย The Buffalo News first broke the story that he was being investigated for rape. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll speak to media at training camp, and even if he does, don’t expect him to comment on the legal proceedings.
In fact, don’t expect any Blackhawks players or coaches to say much on this topic. The legal right to remain silent is the probable path here, and going this route is clearly in the best interests of Patrick Kane, his legal team and his hockey team.ย
The grand jury proceedings in this case were postponed, causing speculation that a settlement was in the works. However, nothing more developed along this front. Kane’s future with the organization is obviously in serious doubt, but his inclusion on the preseason roster is a clear signal that he won’t be leaving the Hawks in the immediate future.
In 2009, Kane was arrested for assaulting a taxicab driver over an argument for the minimal monetary sum of 20 cents.
In that incident, Patrick Kane and his cousin pleaded guilty to ย a much lesser charge of disorderly conduct, a noncriminal violation. It occurred in the wee hours of Sunday morning, following a long Saturday night of partying. The following Monday, team USA training camp opened to a media circus in the far west suburbs.
The event began with Patrick Kane giving his mea culpa and owning up to what he had done. Expect another overgrown media circus in South Bend this week.
Paul M. Banksย owns, operates and writesย The Sports Bank.net, which is part of theย FOX Sports Engage Network.ย Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times,ย currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition.ย He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.ย
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