Following weeks of speculation, a pre-camp press conference was held at the Notre Dame training facility in South Bend, Ind. for the Chicago Blackhawks. Coming off their third Stanley Cup win in six years there should have been discussion of defense of the Cup as the 2015-16 NHL season approaches.
Instead, speculation will remain rampant as focus of the media gathering was Patrick Kane, now the continued subject of a sexual assault case in Hamburg, NY.
The Chicago top brass attended the presser including team president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, and head coach Joel Quenneville
“I cannot apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, teammates, this incredible organization and our fans,” Kane said during the press conference.
Kane added he had “done nothing wrong”.
The allegations of sexual assault surfaced in early August and while official details are scant anonymous sources have suggested the complaint was filed by a 20-year old woman in the Buffalo (NY) at Kane’s off season home in Hamburg.
“We recognize that Patrick Kane is dealing with a very serious situation,” McDonough said. “Based on our discussions with his legal representatives who are very close to this matter, we have decided to have Patrick join us for training camp.”
McDonough later bristled at the suggestion that his Chicago Blackhawks franchise was tone deaf to the issue of sexual assault with the “invitation” of Kane to the opening of training camp.
Journalist and social media responses have been anything but supportive and in some cases derisive of the entire event.
Until there is a resolution to Kane’s legal status there will be a cloud hanging over the Blackhawks as an organization and the NHL. Murmurs are already heard of double-standards and calculated moves for a superstar.
You must be logged in to post a comment.