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EA Sports Removes Patrick Kane From "NHL 16" Cover; Toews To Appear Alone

EA Sports yesterday confirmed that Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane "will no longer be on the cover of 'NHL 16' and that the company has canceled his appearances for the game's launch Sept. 15," according to St. Clair & Hopkins of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The company earlier this summer announced that Kane and Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews "would appear on the cover together with the Stanley Cup." The planned cover "would have been the first in the game's history to feature two teammates and the Cup." EA said that Toews "now will appear alone with the trophy." EA is the first company to "publicly distance itself from Kane since police confirmed that the 26-year-old winger is under investigation" for an alleged rape incident. Kane has a "long list of endorsement deals that includes McDonald's, Chevrolet, Gatorade and Bauer hockey equipment." None of those companies "has announced plans to sever ties with him." However, Bauer yesterday said that it is "following the case." EA Sports' decision to drop Kane "likely stems from the timetable involving its upcoming product launch." Experts said that with "NHL 16" set for release in five weeks, the company "could not risk keeping Kane on the cover with the case unresolved." The Blackhawks -- who "continue to sell Kane's jersey at the team's Michigan Avenue store -- declined to discuss EA Sports' decision" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/13). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "Until that is adjudicated or dismissed, I don't think you put him out there in idol form. I think this is the wise thing to do ("PTI," ESPN, 8/12).

UNPRECEDENTED MOVE: ESPN.com's Rovell & Strang noted EA "has never pulled a cover athlete off a game before its release." However, for "NHL 2004," EA replaced then-Thrashers LW Dany Heatley months after his cover appeared on shelves following "a car crash that occurred when he was driving," which killed teammate Dan Snyder. When news of Tiger Woods' infidelity was revealed in November '09, he was "dropped by most companies that counted him as an endorser, though EA stuck with him as the name being its golf franchise." McDonald's VP/Global Media Relations & Issues Management Heidi Barker said the QSR is "aware of the matter involving Patrick Kane," but "it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time" (ESPN.com, 8/12).

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