Patrick Kane Kicked Off "NHL 16" EA Cover Over Sexual Assault Investigation

Chicago Blackhawks player Patrick Kane has been kicked off the cover of Electronic Arts' upcoming NHL 16 video game. EA said he has been removed because of an ongoing investigation. Kane was recently accused of sexually assaulting a woman in New York.

Kane was supposed to be on the cover alongside teammate Jonathan Toews. EA tweeted a picture of the updated cover, which will just feature Toews.

The new cover of #NHL16. pic.twitter.com/57iMr9pD9d

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 12, 2015

The game was expected to be released in September but it's unclear if there will be a production delay due to this change, according to ESPN.

ESPN notes that EA has never before taken an athlete off a video game cover before the release of a game. However, it did replace Dany Heatley months after the game was released due to a car accident that killed his teammate Dan Snyder.

Kane was accused of raping a woman at his home near Buffalo, New York in early August. The woman met Kane at a nightclub in Buffalo and he invited her back to his house. There, the woman says, Kane raped her, according to reports in the Buffalo News. The woman was examined in a hospital afterwards and sources say she had bite marks on her shoulders and a scratch on her leg.

Hamburg Police Chief Gregory Wickett told ESPN that the investigation is ongoing and they are awaiting forensic results. There is currently no timeline on the investigation.

Kane signed an eight-year $84 million contract with the Blackhawks last year and has endorsement deals with Bauer Hockey, McDonald's, Gatorade and Chevrolet. Bauer said they are monitoring the situation.

After these developments, there is speculation over whether Kane will be suspended by the NHL or his team. Some are calling for his suspension, saying that it is the right thing for the team or league to do. Sports Illustrated argued this week that the Blackhawks now are in a tight situation and likely will have to suspend the player.