Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane proud to be named to US Olympic roster

Patrick Kane talked earlier today of the 2010 Winter Olympics, just getting to be there for the first time, Team USA’s run and that gold-medal game against Team Canada.

Now he’s going back for more.

Kane was named to Team USA, the only Chicago Blackhawks player to do so, when the team’s 2014 roster was unveiled following the NHL Winter Classic this afternoon. It’s a second Olympic trip for Kane, who won the silver medal with Team USA in 2010 in Vancouver.

Blackhawks teammates Brandon Saad and Nick Leddy, who attended Team USA’s orientation camp last summer along with Kane, were not named to the U.S. team’s roster.

For Kane, the whole 2010 Olympic experience, especially that final game vs. Canada and some of his Blackhawks teammates, has stuck with Kane.

“It was amazing to see people in the crowd after Canada won, crying and hugging each other, taking it all in. You look back, obviously wish you could’ve won gold, but it was still an amazing experience,” Kane said. “It was great for the sport and the game. To be part of that game was awesome.”

Team Canada’s roster will be announced next Wednesday.

Saad was likely close to making Team USA this season. The 21-year-old has made an impression on the Blackhawks and the league coming off last year’s great rookie season in which he was a Calder Trophy finalist and, of course, a Stanley Cup winner. Saad currently has 14 goals and 16 assists for the Blackhawks; and even though he’s not bound for the Olympics this year, Saad’s growth has been tremendous.

“He’s a threat. He’s dangerous every time he touches the puck and has a nice pace to his game,” coach Joel Quenneville said of Saad. “Everybody talks about sophomore year when (players) bounce a little bit, but he hasn’t shown that. I’ve seen a lot of signs for improvement.”

Meanwhile, Kane will be looking to improve upon his own Olympic experience, hopefully with gold this time.

“I was fortunate to do it in 2010. It was great to be there, a great experience to play at that level of competition,” Kane said. “It (will) be fun to do it again.”

-- Tracey Myers, CSNChicago.com