Here's a story the folks in EA's PR department are going to love. Early Sunday morning, Patrick Kane, a right-winger for the Chicago Blackhawks and the athlete EA selected for the cover of NHL 10, and his cousin James were taking a cab in Kane's hometown of Buffalo, NY. Upon reaching their destination, Kane gave the cab driver $15 for a fare of $14.80. When the driver was unable to provide the twenty cents change, Buffalo police allege that the two Kanes beat up the cab driver, and took back their $15 from him. The two have been charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor counts of theft of services and criminal mischief, to which Patrick has pleaded not guilty.

The obvious thing to point out here would be to question why exactly a professional athlete would feel the need to demand twenty cents change from a cab driver, considering he's, you know, a paid athlete, and probably came into some money for landing the package of NHL 10. But since none of us were in that cab, it's difficult to say what exactly went down between the two Kanes and the cabbie. Maybe the cab smelled, maybe the cabbie drove too fast for the fellows' likings, maybe he played his music too loud. The point is that somehow this cab driver ended up with cuts and bruises on his face which weren't there prior to the ride.

EA has yet to address the altercation, but the NHL did issue this statement, "We are aware of the incident. We don't condone or approve of what has been suggested the facts are. And we are looking into it". Whether or not Kane will face any kind of sanctions from the league will most likely ride on what happens in the courtroom.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Monday in Buffalo, which is the same day that Kane was supposed to attend a U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey orientation camp in suburban Chicago. Dave Fisher, spokesman for USA Hockey, said that he still expects Kane to participate in the three-day event. "There's nothing different today in terms of preparing for the camp," Fischer said. "We're aware of the situation and will let the legal process take its course."

We will keep our eye on this story, and bring you any word from EA regarding their cover athlete.

[Via ESPN]