1. Patrick Kane
    Patrick Kane

    A nice offseason so far

    • Posted 4 months ago|
    • 5 comments
    Hey everyone! I've been taking a break relaxing at home in Buffalo with my family and friends.  It's nice to just worry about being a regular kid again and enjoy the offseason for a while.

    I've been able to look back on the last year and really appreciate all of it. From the All-Star game to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's been a very exciting time for me.

    The All-Star game back in January was really a great experience for me being around so many of the super stars of the NHL, it was crazy fun!  Seeing a huge photo of me across the Hilton Hotel was a highlight, going down the red carpet being greeted by so many fans was also special!  Of course scoring in game was tops.  At one point, because I scored so late in the game, I thought maybe it could be the winning goal for the team, but it wasn't.

    Then there was my hat trick against Vancouver in game six!  I'll never forget that.  I remember I had like 69 messages, ten missed calls, a couple of voice mails after that game!  I don't know how many times I've you-tubed that, I've watched every clip of it, whether it's from the stands or hockey night in Canada, Versus, whatever it may be. It's pretty fun to look back on it.  It's definitely one of the best moments of my life.

    I just got some cool news that I'm going to be on the cover of EA Sports' NHL '10 video game. It's exciting to be on the cover of my favorite video game after playing just my second year as a professional. When you look back at some of the great players who have had this opportunity, it's exciting...to contribute to a game I've been playing for more than 10 years. I think it's supposed to come out September 15.

    A few people were asking me about the Olympics next season.  I have already had the fortune to play for the USA team in other tournaments and any time you have the opportunity to put that USA jersey on it makes you proud of your country.  As for the Olympics, I would first need to make the team, however it would be an honor to represent my country at such a high level of play.

    That's about all I've got for now, leave some comments and questions and I'll try to get to them next time.

    --Kaner 

    5 comments

  2. Patrick Kane
    Patrick Kane

    Playing at This Level

    • Posted 6 months ago|
    • 4 comments
    Wow, it's been crazy and quite a thrill being in the Stanley Cup playoffs! We're now in the middle of the 3rd round series with the Detroit Red Wings. We lost the first game, but we are pumped up and ready for tonight's game two!

    It is really such a privilege to be playing hockey at this level. It's crazy how it all began when I started playing when I was seven. One of my favorite memories was winning the MVP award the first year I ever played hockey. After that, there are so many memories... 

    Winning the gold medal at the under 18 tournament with the USA team in Sweden, winning state titles in both New York and Michigan state, having the opportunity to play in Canada at many different tournaments against unbelievable competition, playing for the USA with the NTDP, winning rookie of the year in both the CHL and the OHL when I played for the London Knights and so many more! 

    I wasn't only a hockey player growing up though. I also loved playing basketball and still enjoy throwing the ball around. I played soccer and baseball too, but hockey was really my game.

    It really wasn't that long ago that I had all those youth experiences. Now coming into the NHL, you think how lucky you are to be where you are. People ask me a lot about playing for the Blackhawks and about my relationship with Jonathan Toews, since he and I are in pretty similar circumstances starting out in the NHL so young.

    Jonathan and I get along really well. We have been fortunate to come into the NHL together and experience it with someone our own age and support each other. We have been line mates and roommates and have gone on several player appearances together and it is fun to be able to do this with each other. 

    There is a photo of the back of Jon and I, he is #19 and I am #88, when you put them together it of course is 1988, which is the year we both were born! This is just one of the many things we think is great about us being here in Chicago together.

    I don't think he's had time to get his weplay profile started yet, but I'm excited for Jon to join me and the other hockey pros here!
    I'll check back in soon, be sure to cheer the Blackhawks on! --Kaner

    4 comments

  3. Patrick Kane
    Patrick Kane

    Getting Going

    • Posted 6 months ago|
    • 1 comment

    Pretty crazy time to be getting started here, I know. Smack in the middle of my first time ever to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, getting ready to start the second round here in Vancouver and there is so much going on.

    But I'm pretty stoked to be on Weplay and get to be a member of the hockey community here. I don't know how many hockey players are here, but we're going to build it up that's for sure.

    Hasn't been too long since I was a junior hockey player myself of course. This is only my second season in the NHL and it's been great so far. I had a pretty nice first year but we missed the Playoffs and getting there this season was our goal from the outset. Once we did that, our goal now is to keep winning.

    In the NHL, the first year is all about learning the routine - the travel, the practicing, the game preparation. But now after playing all 82 games last year and another season this year, I am definitely more comfortable and settled both with the team and in the city.

    This year I also had to deal with a few injuries, something I never really had to deal with before, so I had to learn how to play hurt which gave me some new perspective.

    The city of Chicago has been amazing and very exciting, the crowds have been unbelievable all year long. I recall saying last year, "What do we need to do to fill this building?"and now there are sell outs almost every night.

    The fans believe and we want to put on a great show for them every time we step out onto the ice. Beating Calgary in the first round was great for our franchise and now with Vancouver in the next round, we just take one game at a time.

    So I just wanted to get started, get my profile going and start making friends, but there's more to come. In the meantime we start Round 2 tomorrow night. Today we have a short practice in a few and a bus to catch.

    Good meeting you all here and don't be a stranger. ---Kaner

    1 comment

Recent Entries

  1. A nice offseason so far

  2. Playing at This Level

  3. Getting Going