Player faces accusations
Evander Kane, a player for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, has refuted claims that he has wagered on hockey and intentionally thrown games. The forward made the comments in response to allegations posted on Instagram by his wife.
he’s obviously throwing games to win money”
Anna Kane, referred to by Evander Kane as his “soon to be ex wife,” made the claims on Saturday. She wrote: “How does the NHL let a compulsive gambling addict still play when he’s obviously throwing games to win money? Hmm maybe someone needs to address this.”
That night, the NHL published a statement to confirm it was aware of the post and would investigate accordingly. Evander took to Twitter the following day to claim his innocence. He insisted that he “would never do any” of what his “estranged” wife alleged.
The player made clear his intention to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The NHL and Kane respond
In response to Anna Kane’s claims, the NHL said it would take the allegations very seriously, describing the game’s integrity as “paramount.” The San Jose Sharks also released a short statement on Sunday backing a “full and transparent investigation into the situation.”
Meanwhile, Kane described the allegations as “FALSE” in his own response. “I have NEVER gambled/bet on Hockey, NEVER gambled/ bet on a Sharks game, NEVER gambled/bet on any of my games and NEVER thrown a hockey game,” he said. The player made the comments in two statements posted to his Twitter page on Sunday:
In addition to refuting the gambling claims, Kane’s response also addressed allegations made in regard to irresponsible behavior. Anna Kane accused her husband of partying in Europe while she struggled to afford baby formula for their daughter. She even claimed that she had to sell her wedding ring to survive financially.
“I love my daughter,” Kane said in his written response. “I will and always have taken care of my daughter in every way possible. I have always made sure her mother had everything she’s needed and more.” The hockey player described his wife as “mentally unwell” and claimed she was using their child as “leverage.”
Recent financial troubles
Evander Kane has experienced difficulties with gambling in the past. In 2019, a Las Vegas casino sued the Sharks forward for a $500,000 gambling debt. The Cosmopolitan claimed Kane failed to pay back the debt accrued during a Golden Knights playoff series in Vegas.
Kane has also faced a number of recent financial difficulties. As reported by The Athletic, he filed for Chapter 7 of personal bankruptcy in January this year, listing $10.2m in assets and $26.8m in debt. Subsequently, a lender filed a lawsuit against the Sharks forward for $15m plus attorney fees.
