The Detroit News’s Ted Kufan filed an afternoon notebook which focuses on Patrick Kane’s attempts to maximize the impact of taking part in an outdoor hockey game with his family nearby–in the form of his father, his son, and his partner:
“That’s the cool part about these events. It’s an important game, a fun atmosphere,” Kane said. “It ties in with the Michigan – Ohio State rivalry, too, and you can enjoy your family. I remember the first time I took him on the ice and skated with him,” said Kane, of the skating with his infant son. “Everyone was like, ‘watch, watch’, and bending over so much and picking him up. I didn’t think anything other than the next day my lower back was in pain. I kind of let (Kane’s partner) Amanda do all the work today and just sit back and enjoy just being out there with Amanda and Patrick and my sisters as well.”
Coach Todd McLellan made a point Friday of attempting to meet as many wives and girlfriends of Wings’ players as he could on the ice, not having had much of opportunity since taking over Dec. 26.
McLellan noticed the three generations of Kanes on the ice and called it “special.
“The generations that are out there, I met Mr. Kane and obviously Patty, his (partner) and then they’ve got their little guy out there,” McLellan said. “That’s three generations of hockey. The little one is trying to learn how to skate and just stand up. Patty is going into the Hall of Fame, and his dad and mom are hockey parents who gave him everything he needed, so that’s really special, then they all come together on the road, skate and share that moment. It does wonders.
“I personally took time to go around and meet the wives and girlfriends. I haven’t had a chance to do that anywhere. That allowed me to put some names to faces. Everybody has a story to tell tonight. They’re going to phone somebody tonight and say, ‘it was so cool because,’ and that’s how it should be. They should have their own chapters.”
