Patrick Kane, Stanley Cup make their way to Elmhurst bar

ELMHURST – Steve Riley was in for the surprise of a lifetime when he received a text from his brother that Patrick Kane and the Stanley Cup were on their way June 27 to their family-owned restaurant and bar, Riley's Gathering Place, on York Street.

"I thought my brother was just messing with me," Riley said, adding he decided to show up just to make sure.

When Riley entered the bar that night, there were about 30 people there, but as soon as Kane and his crew of friends arrived in a limo bus, the crowd nearly tripled, he said.

Kane, his friends and the Stanley Cup had just come from a Jimmy Buffett concert in Tinley Park. The Blackhawks star sported appropriate Buffett attire, complete with a parrot-head hat and a Hawaiian shirt, Riley said.

He said one member of Kane's group brought the cup inside the bar, placed it on a table and just let Blackhawks fans take photos with the coveted prize.

Before Kane was swallowed by an enormous crowd of friends and fans, Riley was able to snag a photo with him. He and his wife, Debbie, also were able to get a photo with the cup, he said.

Another surprise Kane had in store for fans that night was his karaoke rendition of Tom Petty's song "Free Fallin.'"

"It was pretty neat," Riley said.

He added what's more is that Riley's Gathering Place is a "big Blackhawks bar," and the family bought the bar from former Blackhawks player Grant Mulvey. Throughout the years, other players like Bobby Hull and Jeremy Roenick have made trips to the 26-year-old neighborhood establishment, Riley said.

"It's still so surreal," he said.

After Kane's visit, visitors came the next day and bombarded Riley with questions about the previous night's events, and it's a story he does want to share, he said.

"It's amazing how word gets out," Riley said.

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Check it out

To see Patrick Kane's karaoke rendition of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin,'" visit shawurl.com/1zmp. (Warning: This video contains explicit language.)