Evander Kane suspended 21 games by NHL for COVID violations

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The NHL has suspended San Jose Sharks guardant Evander Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.

The league connected Monday announced the suspension without wage and said Kane volition not beryllium eligible to play until Nov. 30 astatine New Jersey. Kane volition forfeit astir $1.68 cardinal of his $7 cardinal wage for this play with the wealth going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The league besides announced that a concurrent probe into allegations of intersexual and carnal maltreatment made against Kane by his estranged wife, Anna, could not beryllium substantiated.

“I would similar to apologize to my teammates, the San Jose Sharks organization, and each Sharks fans for violating the NHL COVID protocols,” Kane said successful a statement. “I made a mistake, 1 I sincerely regret and instrumentality work for. During my suspension, I volition proceed to enactment successful counseling to assistance maine marque amended decisions successful the future. When my suspension is over, I program to instrumentality to the crystal with large effort, determination, and emotion for the crippled of hockey.”

The Sharks person not said what Kane’s presumption volition beryllium aft the investigations. Kane had not been astir the squad since the commencement of grooming campy portion these investigations were ongoing successful an statement betwixt him and the team.

“While we are encouraged by Evander’s committedness to moving forward, we are highly disappointed by his disregard for the wellness and information protocols enactment successful spot by the NHL and the NHLPA,” the squad said successful a statement. “We volition not beryllium commenting further connected Evander’s presumption anterior to the decision of the NHL’s mandated suspension.”

Kane had antecedently been cleared by the NHL successful an probe into allegations made by Anna Kane that helium stake connected hockey games, including immoderate against the Sharks.

But the league did find that Kane violated the COVID-19 protocols. A idiosyncratic acquainted with the probe said earlier this period that the league was looking into allegations that Kane submitted a fake vaccination card. The idiosyncratic spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that details weren’t made public.

Using a fake vaccination paper is amerciable successful some the United States and Canada, arsenic good arsenic against NHL rules.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said past week that lone 4 players connected progressive rosters hadn’t been vaccinated.

Kane, 30, is 3 seasons into a $49 million, seven-year contract. He’s with his 3rd enactment aft being drafted by and debuting with Atlanta/Winnipeg and a stint successful Buffalo.

Last season, helium had 22 goals and 27 assists successful 56 games.