No. 1 fan: Patrick Kane's dad makes it to every Blackhawks home game

Pat Kane Sr. has always been dedicated when it comes to attending as many games as possible since his son was taken No. 1 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007.

Thirty-five, thirty-seven, thirty-eight times a season the elder Kane was in his customary United Center seat, five rows behind the west goal.

But this season, the 59-year-old Kane didn't miss a single contest, going 41-for-41 and capping off his perfect campaign Friday night when the Hawks defeated the Dallas Stars.

"We didn't plan on it from Day 1," Kane Sr. said before the game. "Throughout the years I always thought it would be nice to make every game. Something always came up where I had to be back in Buffalo, so it didn't work out.

"But once I got into it this year, Patrick seemed to jump on board."

Kane's dad isn't just at the games, either.

He'll come to practices at MB Ice Arena and morning skates as well. He's even a regular at the Palace Bar and Grill, which is just blocks from the United Center and sports dozens of Blackhawks photos on the walls.

"A great man," Palace owner George Lemparis said. "He's become a legend in his own. He's very approachable. People come in here, they talk to him. He's just a great guy and they're a great family."

Pat Kane Sr. and wife Donna drive from Buffalo - where they still live - after the Hawks return from road trips. Kane's dad isn't a big fan of airplanes, so although it can take 8-9 hours, it's still much better than if Kane was playing for a team much further West.

And as one story goes, that nearly happened.

"I remember 10 or 15 minutes before the draft, someone came down and kind of whispered to me and my dad that Phoenix traded for the first pick," Kane said in 2017. "I was all worried because I thought Phoenix wanted Kyle Turris, and my dad was worried because he thought he was going to have to drive to Phoenix from Buffalo."

The most memorable moment for all of the Kanes this season came during the first period of a 4-3 loss to Calgary on Jan. 7. After skating down the right side of the ice, Kane flipped a backhanded shot that bounced off Flames goalie David Rittich's right shoulder and somehow ended up in the back of the net.

Kane looked right at his parents, who were celebrating yet another goal by their son.

"It was really, really special," Kane Sr. said. "It just made the goal even greater. Not only a great shot, but a great reaction after."

Kane always been close with his dad, even when things may have been a bit testy many years ago.

"He was pretty hard on me when I was a kid up until maybe 12 or 13 years old," Kane said. "After that, he's just been very supportive in everything I've done in my hockey career - and even in life in general."

Said Kane Sr.: "What I expected I still expect today. I know what he's capable of doing out there and when he didn't do it as a kid, I was just disappointed because I knew what was inside of him. …

"We believe he is where he is today because of that. (He feels) no pressure in the big games and just goes out there and knows what he has to do. Being tough on him, we think later in life has paid off for him."

Kane calls his dad his best friend. They played tennis together until Kane made his dad run too much. They loved playing Ping-Pong, they still golf together and also enjoy cracking out a deck of cards to play their favorite game - Skat.

"I always tell him he's my best friend and he's one of those guys that is really fun to see," Kane said. "Makes you laugh.

"He knows my game probably better than I do. It's always good to talk to him about different things - what he sees in my game or what he thinks I can do.

"More importantly, he's been a great friend for me forever. It's always fun having him around."