When boasting the Blackhawks’ success, McDonough let out an unfortunate comment given the nature of this press conference. He used the phrase “I appreciate the question” several times, using each reporter’s name, before declining comment because of the “legal process”.
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“I’m excited to be here at camp just like all the players”, he said.
The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described a fluid situation in which both Kane and his accuser have refused at times to acquiesce because they both view themselves as the wronged party.
“I can not apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, teammates, this incredible organization and our fans”, he said during a press conference that was streamed on CSN Chicago. The team will also conduct two more practices at the university on the 19th and 20th of the month before coming back to Chicago for their annual Training Camp Festival at the United Center on September 21.
“The Chicago Blackhawks organization prides itself in trying to make calculated and deliberate decisions based on information we have at the present time”. Despite the case still being active, the Blackhawks opened their doors for Kane to attend camp, and he arrived to a hoard of media looking for answers. The National Hockey League has been reviewing the facts of the Kane case, and has not suspended him.
A breath before, McDonough dodged a question over whether bringing Kane to camp is an endorsement of his innocence: “That is something we can address at another time”. After a summer of only being able to guess at how the Blackhawks would handle the situation, we now know – they’re blowing it. At least we learned something. This has weighed on all of us.
“We’re really bad celebrators”, McDonough said with a smirk. “I will say this hasn’t been an easy situation for any of us to deal with”, McDonough said.
Kane, 26, is one of the important faces of a Blackhawks team that has won three Stanley Cup championships over the past six seasons. The grand jury is expected to meet later this month after being postponed by prosecutors for unknown reasons.
Asked if Kane had apologized to the team and what he had said, Toews quickly tried to shift the focus back on the ice. The have always been there. He said he had received support from his teammates and the organization.
The Blackhawks have a reputation for being able to overcome adversity.
Despite a flurry of questions at the media briefing, Kane declined to comment further on the matter.
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“I think we will be all right”, Quenneville said.
