Kane turns 21, embraces new outlook on life

On Thursday November 19, Patrick cane from the chicago black hawks turned 21. "I've got a lot of birthday wishes, which was good. I was expecting a bit of a prank," said Kane, who will celebrate his 21st birthday with a game against the Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome.The 2008 Calder Trophy winner has, however, come of age a little earlier than he expected. As everyone in the hockey world knows, Kane was arrested Aug. 9 following an incident with a cab driver in Buffalo, who claimed he was assaulted after Kane and his cousin demanded 20 cents in change from a $15 fare. The third-year Blackhawk pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, but all other charges were dropped.Kane and the Blackhawks, who entered Thursday's game leading the Central Division with a 12-5-2 record, are kicking off their first major road trip of the season -- seven games -- after winning their past four on United Center ice.They're starting the junket in Western Canada, where hockey is king and the scrutiny is intense. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound right wing expects the subject of his arrest to be raised continually, and says the August altercation already has changed the way he conducts himself in public."I still feel I'm the same kid at heart. Obviously situations like that open your eyes a little bit," said Kane, who leads Chicago with 19 points, including 12 assists, through the club's first 19 games. "It was a tough situation. You never want to go through that. Obviously, the only story you guys heard was what the cab driver said."The worst kind of came out of the situation, but at the same time, I think maybe it was better that it happened sooner rather than later. You can take a positive from a bad situation. Pretty much every (situation) I treat now, when I'm out to dinner or walking down the street, I'm going to treat like it's going to be publicized, and like it's going to be put in the media."said kane. Be sure to watch the black hawks take on the flames tonight at 8.