Knights’ Kane No. 1

Teammate Sam Gagner is taken sixth in draft.
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By PATRICK MALONEY, SUN MEDIA
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COLUMBUS, OHIO — A golden age for London hockey added a few more karats at last night’s National Hockey League draft.
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The latest local charge onto the world hockey stage was led by Knights star Patrick Kane, selected first overall by Chicago and one of three London stars — two of them Knights — taken in the top 10.
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Kane’s Knights teammate Sam Gagner went sixth to Edmonton. San Jose traded up aggressively to nab London native Logan Couture, who played last season for the Ottawa 67s, at ninth.
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“It’s unbelievable to join the group of players that have gone No. 1,” said Kane, who brought a group of 100 supporters from Buffalo, his home. “I’ve worked for this my whole life, my family’s been there since Day 1. Now that it’s come true, it feels like a dream, you know?”
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Columbus is deep in football country — Ohio State University is just a few blocks from Nationwide Arena, the draft site — but the NHL took centre stage last night with thousands attending the draft’s opening round.
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London stole much of the show.
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Its talented trio’s high draft showing was the high-water mark of an unprecedented string of local hockey success that’s included powerhouse Knights teams, a home-ice Memorial Cup win and the development of another area star, Joe Thornton of St. Thomas, into one of the sport’s biggest stars.
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“It’s a credit to the city of London,” Knights general manager Mark Hunter said of his team’s success. “It’s the fan support. It brings good players to our organization.”
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For Kane, today will his first appearance in international headlines.
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Besides joining the likes of Mario Lemieux and Mats Sundin as a top NHL pick, his selection comes a year after St. Louis took fellow American Erik Johnson No. 1. This marks the first time U.S. players have been selected first in consecutive drafts.
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Last night, Philadelphia took New Jersey native James vanRiemsdyk, making it the first time American players have gone 1-2 a single draft.
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But Gagner also got plenty of attention. His photo, taken during a Knights game, was on the front page of the Columbus Dispatch newspaper yesterday. He drew praise from several NHL executives last night.
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Their mutual success — Kane and Gagner are close off-ice friends — made the draft especially sweet, Gagner said.
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“He’s one of my best friends and he’s just great to be around,” said Gagner, the son of former NHL player Dave Gagner. “It’s just a great day for everyone.”
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Kane’s selection makes four the number of Knights to go first overall in the NHL draft, joining Rick Green (1976), Rob Ramage (1979) and Rick Nash (2002). No other team has ever produced more than two.
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For Couture, the road leading to the NHL has been quieter. And given his initiation into the world of hockey drafts, the NHL experience was likely a welcome relief.
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Couture was slated to go first overall in the 2005 OHL draft, likely to Oshawa, until the league changed the rules and allowed underage sensation John Tavares to enter.
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Oshawa took Tavares, leaving a 16-year-old Couture “crushed,” his equally frustrated father said at the time.
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But he rebounded with the 67s, putting together two straight 25-goal seasons to enter last night rated 19th among North American skaters. The Sharks obviously thought him underrated.
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“They traded up to get me, so it feels extra special,” said the soft-spoken Couture, who looks and even sounds a bit like Sidney Crosby.
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