Bryan Bickell has been a staple in the league for quite a while, playing a key part in the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup teams. Now with the Carolina Hurricanes, Bickell and the team came out with a release stating that he has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
GM of the Hurricanes Ron Francis had this to say about the diagnosis via the press release:
“First and foremost, the most important thing is for Bryan to take care of himself and our thoughts are with him and his family, he will need to take some time to rest in the immediate future, and we will support him as he takes the necessary steps for his health. We ask that his privacy be respected during the process.”
Bickell also made a statement in the release about how he will handle the illness:
“Since the 2015 playoffs, I’ve been struggling to understand what was going on with my body. Again during the past few weeks, it felt like something wasn’t right, obviously this is a bit of shock for my family and me, but I am hopeful I will be able to return to the ice and continue playing the game that I love.”
The diagnosis and news has sent shockwaves throughout the hockey community. While Bickell has made life difficult on the ice, he is known as one of the more likable people off the ice. Hopefully this diagnosis can be handled properly and Bickell can live a long, prosperous life.
