From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013
looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their
Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 26 looks at the colorful superstar forward Patrick Kane.
Patrick Kane was born on November 19th, 1988, in Buffalo, New York. He began his career with Detroit Honeybaked in the MWEHL in the 2003-2004 season, scoring to a line of eighty-three goals and seventy-seven assists in seventy games. Kane moved along to play with the United States National Team Development Program in 2004-2005, playing in sixty-three games with the U17 team and registering thirty-eight goals and thirty-two assists. Kane joined the U18 team in 2005-2006, and ended up with fifty-two goals and fifty assists in fifty-eight games played. His performance in the program and the North American Hockey League earned him an invitation to the World U18 tournament as a United States representative. In six games at the tournament, Kane had seven goals and five assists, helping the United States win the gold medal. He was named to the U18 All-Star team for his efforts. Kane joined the junior hockey ranks in 2006-2007, playing with the London Knights, but it was clear he was playing in a league under his talent level when he put up sixty-two goals and eighty-three assists in fifty-eight games during the regular season, followed by another ten goals and twenty-one assists in sixteen playoff games. In 2007, he was named to the Ontario Hockey League All-Rookie Team and First All-Star Team, and then named OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year. He went on to represent the United States in the World Junior Championships, where his five goals and four assists in seven games helped guide the Americans to the bronze medal. His performance here earned him a nomination onto the World Junior All-Star Team. Then, to top it all off, Kane was selected first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane made an instant impact in the NHL and skipped the American Hockey League altogether, playing in all eighty-two games in the 2007-2008 season for the Blackhawks, while posting twenty-one goals and fifty-one assists. For his efforts, Kane was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and also beat out teammate Jonathan Toews for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. He also represented the United States at the World Championships, scoring three goals and seven assists in seven games, but the United States failed to medal. Kane maintained a similar pace in his second NHL season, playing in eighty games to the tune of twenty-five goals and forty-five assists in 2008-2009, including his first All-Star Game selection. Kane added another nine goals and five assists in sixteen postseason games. Unfortunately, Kane was at the center of controversy during the offseason in 2009, when he was accused of punching a cab driver in the face in his hometown after not receiving proper change. He was eventually charged of minor crimes and pleaded guilty to them to get away with only having to behave himself so as not to be penalized. With this story receiving much time in the news, Kane could have struggled in the upcoming season. Instead, in 2009-2010, he got even better. He played in all eighty-two games during the regular season, with thirty goals and fifty-eight assists to his name. During the season, he was selected to play with the United States in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and here he had three goals and two assists in six games as the United States took the silver medal. Then, in the playoffs, Kane had ten goals and eighteen assists in twenty-two games. This is, in itself, an amazing performance, but the last of those ten goals came against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals, in overtime, and clinched the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory. Kane became the youngest person to score a Stanley Cup winner with the goal, ended the Blackhawks' championship drought, and had completely overcome his personal demons. Kane was also named to the First-Team NHL All-Stars for 2010. Now, in 2010-2011, Kane began a shiny, new, five-year contract worth $31.5 million. His first year under the deal saw him produce twenty-seven goals and forty-six assists in seventy-three games in the regular season, as well as one goal and five assists in seven playoff games. He appeared in his second Al-Star Game during the season as well. Kane's production dipped unusually low in 2011-2012, when he had only twenty-three goals and forty-three assists in eighty-two games, the third time in his career he played every game during the regular season. Again, Kane made the All-Star Game in 2012. In the playoffs, Kane managed just four assists in six games. With doubts looming both for Kane and the NHL season, Kane went over to HC Biel in the Swiss League during the 2012 lockout. He registered thirteen goals and ten assists in twenty games, and returned to North America at the conclusion of the lockout. During the truncated 2013 NHL season, Kane gave the Blackhawks twenty-three goals and thirty-two assists in forty-seven games, returning to the glory of previous years for his offensive numbers. Then, in the playoffs, two Kanes showed up. There was the one that struggled without linemate Jonathan Toews, and the one that was virtually unstoppable with him. Combining the two sides of Kane would result in nine goals and ten assists in twenty-three games as the Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup in four years. Kane would also receive honors as playoff MVP in the form of the Conn Smythe Trophy. Most notably in this postseason was Kane's hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings that propelled the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals. With a full season ahead, Kane looks to continue his superstar legacy in the NHL.
Patrick Kane was born on November 19th, 1988, in Buffalo, New York. He began his career with Detroit Honeybaked in the MWEHL in the 2003-2004 season, scoring to a line of eighty-three goals and seventy-seven assists in seventy games. Kane moved along to play with the United States National Team Development Program in 2004-2005, playing in sixty-three games with the U17 team and registering thirty-eight goals and thirty-two assists. Kane joined the U18 team in 2005-2006, and ended up with fifty-two goals and fifty assists in fifty-eight games played. His performance in the program and the North American Hockey League earned him an invitation to the World U18 tournament as a United States representative. In six games at the tournament, Kane had seven goals and five assists, helping the United States win the gold medal. He was named to the U18 All-Star team for his efforts. Kane joined the junior hockey ranks in 2006-2007, playing with the London Knights, but it was clear he was playing in a league under his talent level when he put up sixty-two goals and eighty-three assists in fifty-eight games during the regular season, followed by another ten goals and twenty-one assists in sixteen playoff games. In 2007, he was named to the Ontario Hockey League All-Rookie Team and First All-Star Team, and then named OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year. He went on to represent the United States in the World Junior Championships, where his five goals and four assists in seven games helped guide the Americans to the bronze medal. His performance here earned him a nomination onto the World Junior All-Star Team. Then, to top it all off, Kane was selected first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane made an instant impact in the NHL and skipped the American Hockey League altogether, playing in all eighty-two games in the 2007-2008 season for the Blackhawks, while posting twenty-one goals and fifty-one assists. For his efforts, Kane was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and also beat out teammate Jonathan Toews for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. He also represented the United States at the World Championships, scoring three goals and seven assists in seven games, but the United States failed to medal. Kane maintained a similar pace in his second NHL season, playing in eighty games to the tune of twenty-five goals and forty-five assists in 2008-2009, including his first All-Star Game selection. Kane added another nine goals and five assists in sixteen postseason games. Unfortunately, Kane was at the center of controversy during the offseason in 2009, when he was accused of punching a cab driver in the face in his hometown after not receiving proper change. He was eventually charged of minor crimes and pleaded guilty to them to get away with only having to behave himself so as not to be penalized. With this story receiving much time in the news, Kane could have struggled in the upcoming season. Instead, in 2009-2010, he got even better. He played in all eighty-two games during the regular season, with thirty goals and fifty-eight assists to his name. During the season, he was selected to play with the United States in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and here he had three goals and two assists in six games as the United States took the silver medal. Then, in the playoffs, Kane had ten goals and eighteen assists in twenty-two games. This is, in itself, an amazing performance, but the last of those ten goals came against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals, in overtime, and clinched the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory. Kane became the youngest person to score a Stanley Cup winner with the goal, ended the Blackhawks' championship drought, and had completely overcome his personal demons. Kane was also named to the First-Team NHL All-Stars for 2010. Now, in 2010-2011, Kane began a shiny, new, five-year contract worth $31.5 million. His first year under the deal saw him produce twenty-seven goals and forty-six assists in seventy-three games in the regular season, as well as one goal and five assists in seven playoff games. He appeared in his second Al-Star Game during the season as well. Kane's production dipped unusually low in 2011-2012, when he had only twenty-three goals and forty-three assists in eighty-two games, the third time in his career he played every game during the regular season. Again, Kane made the All-Star Game in 2012. In the playoffs, Kane managed just four assists in six games. With doubts looming both for Kane and the NHL season, Kane went over to HC Biel in the Swiss League during the 2012 lockout. He registered thirteen goals and ten assists in twenty games, and returned to North America at the conclusion of the lockout. During the truncated 2013 NHL season, Kane gave the Blackhawks twenty-three goals and thirty-two assists in forty-seven games, returning to the glory of previous years for his offensive numbers. Then, in the playoffs, two Kanes showed up. There was the one that struggled without linemate Jonathan Toews, and the one that was virtually unstoppable with him. Combining the two sides of Kane would result in nine goals and ten assists in twenty-three games as the Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup in four years. Kane would also receive honors as playoff MVP in the form of the Conn Smythe Trophy. Most notably in this postseason was Kane's hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings that propelled the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals. With a full season ahead, Kane looks to continue his superstar legacy in the NHL.
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