Evander Kane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Evander Kane
Born (1991-08-02) August 2, 1991
Vancouver, BC, CAN
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams 		Winnipeg Jets
Atlanta Thrashers (NHL)
HC Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2009
Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career 2009–present

Evander Kane (born August 2, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected fourth overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he was drafted from the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

During his major junior career, he won the Memorial Cup with the Giants in 2007, finished as runner-up for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year in 2008 and was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team in 2009. Kane also set the Giants' franchise record for single-season goals in 2008–09.

Internationally, Kane has won gold medals with Team Canada at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and 2009 World Junior Championships. He has also competed in the 2010 IIHF World Championship.

Early life

Kane was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on August 2, 1991, to Perry and Sheri Kane, who named him after American boxer Evander Holyfield (he later met Holyfield at age 18).[1][2] Kane has two sisters, Brea and Kyla, who are two and four years younger, respectively.[3]

Coming from an athletic lineage, his father was an amateur boxer[4] and hockey player. He played with the Cole Harbour Scotia Colts and Dartmouth Arrows of the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League (MVJHL) in Nova Scotia,[5] as well as with St. Francis Xavier University.[1] Kane's mother was a professional volleyball player.[1] His uncle, Leonard Kane, is a member of the Canadian Ball Hockey Hall of Fame.[6] Kane's cousin, Dwayne Provo, played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for seven years and spent one season with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).[5] Another cousin, Kirk Johnson, boxed for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and later fought John Ruiz for the 2002 World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight title.[5]

Growing up in East Vancouver, Kane attended high school at John Oliver Secondary.[7] In addition to hockey, he played baseball, basketball and soccer growing up.[5] After beginning to skate at the age of three, he began playing minor hockey at eight. His father instructed him in his early years and initially wanted to keep him out of organized hockey until Kane was ten.[8] At fourteen-years-old, Kane recorded 140 points in 66 games with the bantam North Shore Winter Club,[9] followed by a 22-goal, 54-point campaign to finish fourth in league scoring with the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Hockey Major Midget League (BCMML).[10] Kane also played minor hockey with the Vancouver Thunderbirds, prior to bantam and midget.[7]

Playing career

A black, teenage hockey player as seen from the side, cut off below the shoulders. He is looking towards the left intently during a game. He wears a white, visored helmet and a white, black and red jersey with "Kane" written on his upper back and a maple leaf on his upper arm.
Kane during the 2009 WHL playoffs.

Vancouver Giants (2006–09)

Kane was drafted 19th overall in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft by the Vancouver Giants and immediately played eight games for the Giants in the 2006–07 season.[9] He received his first WHL call-up for a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds on December 13, 2006, due to other Giants players international commitments in the World Junior Championships.[9] Kane scored his first WHL goal, a game-tying marker, on March 25, 2007, the last game of the regular season.[11] He also suited up for five WHL post-season games, being originally called up for the playoffs after Giants forward Tim Kraus was suspended for game three of the opening round.[11] He later appeared in two Memorial Cup games, tallying an assist,[12] as part of the Giants' 2007 Memorial Cup championship.[13] Kane's gritty play (he accumulated 150 penalty minutes in 30 games during midget)[10] earned him an early comparison to Darcy Tucker from Giants head coach Don Hay, who had coached Tucker as a junior with the Kamloops Blazers.[9][14]

Set to begin his rookie campaign with the Giants the following season, Kane experienced a minor setback as he was forced to miss the start of training camp with a case of mononucleosis.[14] He nevertheless recovered and joined the Giants full-time to tally 24 goals – third in team scoring –[15] and 41 points in his first WHL season. Finishing tenth in rookie scoring, he was nominated for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as league rookie of the year, which was awarded to Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings.[13]

Kane emerged with an impressive start to the 2008–09 season, registering at least a point in each of his first 22 games.[16] After recording his first WHL hat-trick on October 10, 2008, against the Kelowna Rockets, he was named WHL Player of the Week on October 12, succeeding linemate Casey Pierro-Zabotel who had been chosen the previous week.[17] Shortly thereafter, the WHL selected Kane to represent the league at the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.[18] However, due to a bruised heel suffered on November 15 in a game against the Kelowna Rockets,[19] Kane was not able to compete for Team WHL.[20] Kane recovered and earned a spot as an injury replacement at the 2009 World Junior Championships with Team Canada. Upon returning with a gold medal, Kane was named player of the week for the second time in the season on January 12, 2009, after scoring six points in two games immediately following the World Juniors.[21] Later that month, he participated in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game[22] as captain for Team Cherry.[12]

He finished his second WHL season with 48 goals and 96 points, fourth in league scoring.[23] He surprassed Adam Courchaine's team record of 43 goals in a single season, set in 2002–03.[24] Second in team scoring to Pierro-Zabotel's 115 points, the linemates finished one-two in all-time Giants' single-season scoring as Pierro-Zabotel and Kane both surpassed Gilbert Brulé's previous 87-point mark.[25] Kane received WHL West First Team All-Star honours along with teammates Pierro-Zabotel and Jonathon Blum.[26] In the subsequent 2009 playoffs, after the Giants swept the Prince George Cougars in the first round, Kane scored a double-overtime game-winner to force a seventh game in the second round against the Spokane Chiefs.[27] After eliminating the Chiefs in the seventh game, the Giants were then defeated by the Kelowna Rockets in six games in the semi-finals. In 17 post-season games, Kane accumulated 15 points.

Preliminary rankings by NHL Central Scouting Services (CSS) listed Kane as the second-best draft-eligible WHL skater, behind Spokane Chiefs defenceman Jared Cowen for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.[28] International Scouting Services (ISS) ranked Kane at eighth overall among all draft-eligible skaters.[29] Following Kane's performance at the 2009 World Junior Championships, he rose to third overall among North American skaters, behind John Tavares and Matt Duchene, and first in the WHL in the NHL CSS's midseason and final rankings.[30][31] Accordingly, Kane was selected by the NHL CSS as the WHL's nominee for the CHL Top Draft Prospect Award (the award was given to Tavares, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) nominee).[32] Leading up to the 2009 draft, the ISS listed Kane fifth overall in their April rankings.[33]

Atlanta/Winnipeg (2009–present)

Kane as a member of the Thrashers

After Tavares, Victor Hedman and Duchene were taken with the top three picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kane was selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. He became the highest drafted born-and-raised player from Vancouver since Paul Kariya was taken fourth overall in 1993 (Barry Beck was the highest at second overall in 1977),[34][35] the highest drafted Vancouver Giants player in the history of the franchise (surpassing Gilbert Brulé, who was drafted sixth overall in 2005).[36] and the highest drafted black player in NHL history.[5] Less than a month later, the Thrashers signed Kane to an entry-level contract on July 20, 2009.[37]

Kane made the Thrashers' lineup out of his first NHL training camp for the 2009–10 season. He recorded his first career NHL point in his debut on October 3, 2009, earning an assist on a goal by Rich Peverley against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[38] His first goal was scored five days later, on October 8, beating Chris Mason with a snap shot in a 4–2 win over the St. Louis Blues.[39] He played his first NHL game in his hometown a couple months later in an away game against the Vancouver Canucks on December 10. Kane had a near-goal go to review as the Thrashers lost 4–2.[40] He suffered a left foot injury late in his rookie season, blocking a shot during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 6, 2010. A CT scan three days later revealed a bone fracture.[41] He missed 15 games before returning to the lineup on April 3.[42] Playing in the Thrashers' last game of the season on April 10, he was challenged to a fight by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke. Kane landed two punches to Cooke's jaw, knocking him unconscious on the ice for several minutes.[43] Kane finished his NHL rookie campaign with 14 goals and 26 points in 66 games, ranked 12th among first-year point-scorers.[44]

Kane suffered several minor injuries during his second NHL season in 2010–11 season. During a game against the Colorado Avalanche on November 30, 2010, Kane suffered a left knee injury after he was struck by a shot from teammate Tobias Enstrom;[45] he missed two games.[42] The following month, he missed one game due to an arm injury,[42] sustained during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 7.[46] In January 2011, he missed an additional six games due to a lower-body injury.[42] Kept from the lineup for a total nine games, Kane increased his points total to 43 with 19 goals and 24 assists. He ranked fifth in team point-scoring – third among forward behind captain Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little.[47]

During the off-season, the Thrashers franchise was bought and relocated by True North Sports and Entertainment, becoming the Winnipeg Jets. Kane expressed excitement at the move and being able to play in a Canadian hockey market with a passionate fanbase. Although the previous incarnation of the Jets represented a separate franchise (the team became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996), the team had retired the number 9 jersey in honour of Bobby Hull. In preparation of the move to Winnipeg, Kane made it apparent to the media that he would personally ask for Hull's permission to continue wearing the number he had worn as a Thrasher.[48]

Kane was enjoying a successful first season as a Jet, leading his team in scoring with 18 goals and 31 points by mid-January 2012. During that month, however, he was sidelined with a concussion that was reported on January 21.Following a seven-game absence, Kane returned to the lineup early the next month. He then told reporters that he had been playing through concussion-like symptoms for a month since receiving a hit during a game against the New York Islanders on December 20, 2011.[49] Later in the season, he recorded a four-point game (two goals and two assists) in a 7–0 win against the Florida Panthers on March 1, 2012.[50]

On September 15, 2012, Kane signed a 6-year, $31.5 Million contract with the Jets.[51]

As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Kane joined HC Dynamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was the first Canadian NHL player to sign a contract with the KHL.[52] However after twelve games with the club, in which he recorded one goal, Kane was released by Dynamo. The club's athletic director suggested that Kane "could not adapt to hockey in the KHL," but also said that both sides mutually agreed to end the contract.[53]

International play

Evander Kane
Medal record
Competitor for  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold 2009 Ottawa
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold 2008 Pardubice

Coming off his rookie season of major junior, Kane competed in the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, capturing gold with Canada's under-18 team.[54] He totalled four points in four games,[55] including an assist in the 6–3 gold medal game win against Russia.[56] Later that year, Kane was invited to Team Canada's selection camp for the 2009 World Junior Championships along with teammate Tyson Sexsmith.[57] Although he was not initially named to the final roster, a knee injury to Dana Tyrell in tournament exhibition play made a roster spot available and Kane was chosen as his replacement.[54] As the youngest player on the team,[58] Kane contributed six points in six games, helping Canada to a fifth straight gold medal with a 5–1 victory over Sweden in the final.

Following his rookie season in the NHL, Kane was named to the Canadian men's team for the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany. General manager Mark Messier made a specific effort to assemble a young team;[59] as a result, Kane was one of five teenagers on the roster.[60] He finished the tournament with two goals and two assists in seven games. Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinal by Russia and finished in seventh place.[61]

The following year, Kane returned to the national team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.[62] Kane recorded two assists over seven games as Canada suffered a second consecutive defeat in the quarterfinal to Russia.[63]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2005–06 North Shore Winter Club Bantam 66 — — 140 — — — — — —
2006–07 Greater Vancouver Canadians BCMML 30 22 32 54 150 — — — — —
2006–07 Vancouver Giants WHL 8 1 0 1 11 5 0 0 0 0
2007–08 Vancouver Giants WHL 65 24 17 41 66 10 1 2 3 8
2008–09 Vancouver Giants WHL 61 48 48 96 89 17 7 8 15 45
2009–10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 66 14 12 26 62 — — — — —
2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 72 19 24 43 68 — — — — —
2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL 74 30 27 57 53 — — — — —
2012–13 HC Dinamo Minsk KHL 12 1 1 2 47 — — — — —
2012–13 Winnipeg Jets NHL 48 17 16 33 80 — — — — —
NHL totals 261 80 79 159 263 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Canada U18 4 1 3 4 6
2009 Canada WJC 6 2 4 6 2
2010 Canada WC 7 2 2 4 6
2011 Canada WC 7 0 2 2 4
Junior totals 10 3 7 10 8
Senior totals 14 2 4 6 10

Awards

CHL

AwardYear(s)
Memorial Cup (Vancouver Giants) 2007

WHL

AwardYear(s)
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy nomination (rookie of the year) 2008[13]
Player of the Week October 12, 2008[17]
January 12, 2009[21]
West First All-Star Team 2009[26]

International

AwardYear(s)
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gold medal (Team Canada) 2008
World Junior gold medal (Team Canada) 2009

Records

  • Vancouver Giants franchise record; most goals, single-season - 48 in 2008–09 (surpassed Adam Courchaine - 43 in 2002–03)[24]

See also

  • List of black NHL players

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Evander Kane Draft Prospect Card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  2. ↑ Waldie, Paul (2011-12-05). "Jets' Evander Kane bangs, buries his way into limelight". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-12-17. 
  3. ↑ Steve Ewen (2009-06-21). "Kane takes unique route to be a top pick". The Province. Retrieved 2010-09-18. 
  4. ↑ "Perry Kane will be a proud father on Draft day". National Hockey League. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-17. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Ben Wright (2009-06-29). "Family the Foundation for Evander Kane". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2010-11-04. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
  6. ↑ "Leonard Kane". Canadian Ball Hockey Association. Retrieved 2010-04-11. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Giants bank on Kane". Vancouver Sun. 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
  8. ↑ Tait, Ed (2011-12-03). "Busting loose". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2011-12-17. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Steve Ewen (2006-12-13). "Hay impressed by 15-year-old winger". The Province. Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Major Midget League Statistics - 2006-07". BC Hockey Major Midget League. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Giants turn to callup to fill hole". Vancouver Sun. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Confident Kane continues to grow his name". National Hockey League. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Vancouver Giant nominated for WHL rookie of the year". Vancouver Sun. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Prospect Kane to miss Giants camp with mono". The Province. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
  15. ↑ "2007-08 Regular Season - Vancouver Giants". Western Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-12-15. 
  16. ↑ "Giants find more ignition trouble at Tri-City's Toyota Center". The Province. 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2008-12-03. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Giants' Evander Kane named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week". OurSports Central. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2010-09-20. 
  18. ↑ "WHL Announces Rosters and Coaching Staff for 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge". Hockey Now. 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
  19. ↑ "Blum paces Giants past Chilliwack". Vancouver Sun. 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-11-20. 
  20. ↑ "Kane out of Canada-Russia games". The Province. 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2008-11-25. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Sensational season continues for World Junior giant, Evander Kane". CTV BC. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2009-01-12. 
  22. ↑ "Evander Kane chosen for Top Prospects Game". CTV BC. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-20. 
  23. ↑ "Top Scorers: 2008-09 Regular Season, All Players". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Giants Win 5-4 in OT over Blazers". OurSports Central. 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2010-11-04. 
  25. ↑ "WHL:Vancouver Giants defeat Medicine Hat in come-from-behind win". Vancouver Sun. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2009-01-29. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Six Giants Named to WHL All-Star Teams or Awards Finalists". OurSports Central. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-18. 
  27. ↑ "Giants Earn Double OT Win - Force Game Seven". OurSports Central. 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2010-09-18. 
  28. ↑ "Western Hockey League Preliminary Rankings - Fall 2008". National Hockey League. 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 
  29. ↑ "2009 ISS Top 30". TSN. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2008-11-20. 
  30. ↑ "No surprise, Tavares is No. 1 on CSS final list". National Hockey League. 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2009-04-14. 
  31. ↑ "Tavares, Hedman highlight NHL mid-season rankings". TSN. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2009-01-12. 
  32. ↑ "Hodgdson named CHL player of the year, Tavares top prospect". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-12-15. 
  33. ↑ "Duchene moves up to second in ISS rankings". TSN. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
  34. ↑ Steve Ewen (2009-02-02). "Welcome to the Evander Kane show". The Province. Retrieved 2010-09-18. 
  35. ↑ Steve Ewen (2009-06-26). "Giants' Evander Kane goes fourth overall to Atlanta Thrashers at NHL draft". The Province. Retrieved 2010-09-18. 
  36. ↑ "Scouts talking sweet about Kane". The Province. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-06-29. 
  37. ↑ "Thrashers sign first-rounder Kane to entry-level contract". TSN. 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-20. 
  38. ↑ "Thrashers open season with victory". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2009-10-03. 
  39. ↑ "Thrashers at Blues - 10/08/09". National Hockey League. 2009-10-08. 
  40. ↑ "New Thrasher Evander Kane enjoys everything but the result". Vancouver Sun. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
  41. ↑ "Thrashers lose Kane, Schubert to injuries". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-11. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 "Evander Kane". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 
  43. ↑ Chris Vivlamore (2010-04-10). "Thrashers go out fighting". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  44. ↑ "2009-10 Regular Season - Rookie - All Skaters - Summary - Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 
  45. ↑ Chris Vivlamore (2010-12-03). "Thrashers' Evander Kane practices, but status is uncertain". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  46. ↑ "Thrashers notebook: Evander Kane returns". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  47. ↑ "2010-2011 Regular Season Atlanta Thrashers Points Leaders". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  48. ↑ Ewen, Steve (2011-07-21). "One Hull of a big request". The Province (Vancouver: Postmedia News). Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
  49. ↑ Campbell, Tim (2012-02-07). "Jets' Kane trie to play through concussion symptoms". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2012-03-05. 
  50. ↑ Hennessy, Kristi (2012-03-01). "Jets pounce Panthers, 7-0". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved 2012-03-05. 
  51. ↑ Canadian Press (2012-09-16). "Jets sign forward Kane to six-year, $31.5 million deal". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-29. 
  52. ↑ Canadian Press (2012-09-28). "Jets' Evander Kane signs with KHL's Dinamo Minsk". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-29. 
  53. ↑ Canadian Press (2012-11-16). "Evander Kane done at Dinamo Minsk". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-01-06. 
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "Kane added to Canadian world junior roster". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-07. 
  55. ↑ "2008 Under-18 Statistics". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
  56. ↑ "First period outburst helps Canada claim under-18 gold". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
  57. ↑ "A silky and smooth adieu". The Province. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2010-09-18. 
  58. ↑ "2009 IIHF World Junior Championship - Canada Roster". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-01-11. 
  59. ↑ "Young core leads Canada into hockey worlds". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-05-14. 
  60. ↑ "Canada's young guns deliver in hockey opener". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2010-05-14. 
  61. ↑ "Young Canadian team has bitter time". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-20. Retrieved 2010-05-22. 
  62. ↑ "Kane, Clutterbuck commit to joining Canada at worlds". The Sports Network. Canadian Press. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  63. ↑ "Game Summary" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-05-19. 

External links

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Daultan Leveille		 Atlanta Thrashers first round draft pick
2009 		Succeeded by
Aleksandr Burmistrov
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