Evander Kane calls woman's allegations against him 'a sham'

Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane says a woman's civil suit claiming he seriously injured her during an attack in his hotel room is meant solely to harass him.

Kane calls the 21-year-old woman's allegations "a sham" in a counterclaim filed in New York State Supreme Court last week.

The filing, first reported by The Buffalo News on Tuesday, seeks dismissal of the July 1 complaint and legal costs.

The woman claims she suffered emotional trauma and required multiple surgeries and blood transfusions after the December encounter. In March, prosecutors declined to charge Kane with any crimes following an investigation into a possible sexual assault.

Kane has pleaded not guilty to harassment, disorderly conduct and trespass stemming from a separate incident in June during which he allegedly grabbed three women by the hair and neck. Kane's next scheduled court appearance for that case is Oct. 31.

He's scheduled to report to training camp on Thursday.