Patrick Kane Named Rookie of the Year

Toronto – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Patrick Kane of the London Knights is the 2006-07 Emms Family Award winner as the OHL Rookie of the Year.

Kane led all rookies in scoring this season with 62 goals and 83 assists for 145 points in 58 games. Kane’s 145 point total was also the highest overall in the OHL this season. Kane was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team.

Kane won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship where he led the tournament in scoring with 12 points. Kane also set the US NTDP single season points record recording 102 points in 2005-06.

The 18-year-old native of Buffalo, New York is considered to be one of the top prospects for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, which will be held in June.

The Emms Family Award is presented annually to the top first year player as selected by OHL general managers. Teams were not permitted to vote for a player from their own hockey club. Players received five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

Kane received 84 points in the voting process, while Steve Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting was runner-up with 51 points. Alex Pietrangelo of the Mississauga IceDogs finished third with 24 points.

Former winners of the Emms Family Award include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie, 1977-78), Joe Thornton (Sault Ste. Marie, 1995-96), Owen Nolan (Cornwall, 1988-89) and Rick Nash (London, 2000-01). John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals won the award last season. The award was donated by Leighton “Hap” Emms, former owner of the Barrie, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines OHL franchises.