RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Carolina Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
General manager Ron Francis announced the diagnosis Friday.
Bickell said in a statement issued by the team that ”during the past few weeks, it felt like something wasn’t right,” and that he’s ”been struggling to understand what was going on with my body” since the 2015 playoffs with Chicago.
Francis says the 30-year-old player will take some time to rest from the disease that attacks the nervous system. Bickell says he hopes to keep playing.
Carolina acquired Bickell in a trade with the Blackhawks over the summer.
”Our thoughts are with Bryan, his family and the Carolina Hurricanes during this challenging time,” Blackhawks President and CEO John McDonough said. ”He has built so many lasting relationships in Chicago both inside and outside of the Blackhawks organization based on his play on the ice and character off of it. Together, we will keep him in our thoughts during his fight against the disease.”
The three-time Stanley Cup winner with Chicago has one goal in seven games with the Hurricanes but hasn’t played since Oct. 30. He was scratched from a loss to Anaheim on Thursday night with what the team described as an illness.
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