By Warren Kozireski —
When you carry a hockey bag in western New York with the name Kane stamped on it, fans automatically assume a superior skill level and skating ability just like two-time Stanley Cup winner and probable future Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Kane.
Add in the DNA of being a cousin and Mercyhurst College sophomore forward Noah Kane has some shoes to fill in the eyes of some.
Few in history are Patrick Kane, but Noah Kane is still plowing his way through a second NCAA season. And he obviously likes playing on “home” ice as he registered a two-point game against Canisius Nov. 20 at Harbour Center after garnering a career-best three-point game there a year ago.
“I skate here all summer, so anytime you come home you feel comfortable out there,” Kane said.
He followed that with his first two-goal game as a collegian at Ohio State Thanksgiving weekend.
That gave him five points over the first eight games this season after scoring six points as a freshman.
“He’s a good player, but with the whole transfer thing we ended up with four or five players more than we would like, so he’s been in and out of the line-up,” Mercyhurst head coach Rick Gotkin said. “But every time he’s been in the line-up for us, he’s been good.
“We need to try to continue to find ice time for him.”
Kane turned 22 years old Nov. 27 and started his hockey path at Bishop Timon in Buffalo before moving to Seacoast Prep, the PAL Islanders, spending 2018-19 with three different teams and 2019-20 as captain of a first year NAHL program in Maine where he had a breakout 20-goal, 64-point campaign.
“I had a little interest (from colleges) before, but that year I just took off. It was a familiar coach I had and I just felt comfortable. A good facility, a new program and it was exciting to be there and fun every day.”
The decision was Mercyhurst and the Lakers. Named the teams Most Improved Player last season, the son of Jeanne and Don is seeing time on the point on one of the power play units and using his creativity and footwork to generate scoring opportunities.
“We’ve got a lot of good players and they help me out too. I just try to hit the net and get some rebounds for my buddies.
“Coming in with a young group (as a freshman last year) was easy to come together. We all had fun and a lot of us are the same year so we’re doing it together. We’re going to be here four years together, so buying in and making the best of it.
“Just being close to home an hour and fifteen away and it’s good to have my parents at the games and the staff has been there forever and a lot of pro guys come out of there, so it was hard to turn down.”
Noah’s brother, Cullen, is a senior playing for Lake Forest in Illinois and also seems to find another gear when playing closer to home with a career-best two goal game at Cortland in 2020 while he was playing for Plattsburgh.
He obviously also carries the Kane surname and all the expectations it might generate.
“It brings some pressure for sure, but it’s awesome and an honor. I just try to do the best for myself,” Noah said.
