Report: Blackhawks' Kane subject of rape investigation near Buffalo
Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane is the subject of a police investigation into an alleged rape in the Buffalo area, The Buffalo News reported on Thursday, citing two law enforcement sources.
The report says a woman reported being assaulted over the weekend and had testing done via a rape kit at a hospital.
WKBW-7 in Buffalo, citing sources, reported that the alleged incident involves Kane and a woman that began at a bar in Evans, N.Y.
The NHL says it is "following developments" of a police investigation involving Kane, though it dot state the nature of the investigation. The Blackhawks said they are in the process of gathering information and declined further comment.
Neighbors of Kane, who lives in Hamburg, New York, in the offseason, told the Chicago Tribune that police arrived at his lakefront property Sunday night and that several plainclothes officers entered his house using flashlights. At least one wore gloves and was seen taking pictures out front.
Hamburg Police Chief Gregory Wickett on Friday did not elaborate on the investigation, alluding to an "incident that allegedly occurred" at the player's offseason home in suburban Buffalo. Police are still gathering information and awaiting forensic tests, he said.
Wickett made a brief statement outside police headquarters but would not say if police have spoken with Kane or if the player is cooperating. He responded to one question, saying he did not know if Kane would appear at headquarters Friday. Wickett added there would be no further comment.
Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, issued a statement that first referred to the Blackhawks release, noting the team is gathering information and reviewing reports. Brisson then added: "It would not be appropriate to provide further comment at this time."
The investigation comes after Chicago's third Stanley Cup in six seasons. Kane has been lauded in recent years for his growth after several off-the-ice incidents earlier in his career.
Kane was scheduled to bring the Stanley Cup to Buffalo this weekend, but it's unclear whether that will happen.
Kane was playing at an MVP-caliber level last season before breaking his collarbone in February. But he returned in time for the playoffs, helping the Blackhawks win their third Cup in six seasons and his third since joining the team in 2007 after being selected by Chicago as the No. 1 overall in the NHL draft.
Kane, who turns 27 in November, helped Chicago return to the playoffs during the 2008-09 season after a five-year drought. They lost in the conference finals to Detroit, but bounced back the next season to beat Philadelphia in six games in the Stanley Cup finals. The Blackhawks won it all again in 2013, with Kane earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
A member of the 2010 and '14 U.S. Olympic hockey teams, Kane has raised eyebrows with some of his off-ice behavior. He was arrested after an altercation with a cab driver in Buffalo in the summer of 2009. A few years later, photos posted on the Internet showed him partying in Madison, Wisconsin.
In an interview with The Associated Press before last year's Sochi Games, Kane said there were things he now knew that he didn't a few years earlier.
"How to work harder in the summer or take better care of yourself as far as eating and different things like that," Kane said. "Picking the right times to have fun with the guys and to make sure that when you're doing it, you're doing it right, and you're careful about the way you're going about it."
Buffalo attorney Paul Cambria, who has represented Kane in the past, declined comment when reached by the AP.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report
