After a summer of silence, Patrick Kane addressed the media for a second day in a row.
Kane was described by reporters as more relaxed Friday than at his press conference Thursday.
The star winger admitted he felt rusty on the ice and had not skated since before the alleged off-season incident that is still under investigation by police in Hamburg, N.Y. He has not been charged with a crime.
When Kane, 26, stepped onto the ice at University of Notre Dame’s Compton Family Ice Arena Friday morning, he was greeted with cheers and saluted the crowd.
“To hear that reaction from the crowd, it definitely gave me chills. It was an exciting moment,” Kane said. “It’s a pretty cool reaction, given the circumstances. I didn’t really know what to expect.”
Kane made a brief statement of his innocence Thursday and told reporters Friday that not answering questions on the matter has been “awkward.”
He said it was good to get back on the bench with his teammates and have some laughs.
“All my teammates have been supportive,” Kane said.
“I cannot apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, teammates, this incredible organization and, of course, our fans,” said Kane Thursday in a prepared statement.
“While I have too much respect for the legal process to comment on an ongoing matter, I am confident once all the facts are brought to light I will be absolved of having done [anything] wrong.”
According to The Associated Press, the Erie County District Attorney has postponed grand jury proceedings into the allegation against Kane.
