Multiple sclerosis a personal cause for Bickell
Former NHLer, competing in Battle of the Blades starting Thursday, provides a retreat for MS patients at a cottage near Marmora through his foundation
Few “Battle of the Blades” contestants have skated for a cause as personal as Bryan Bickell’s.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Peterborough County resident was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016 cutting his NHL career short.
The MS Society of Canada, through the Bryan Bickell Foundation, is the charity he and partner Kaitlyn Weaver will compete for when the popular series debuts Season 6 on Thursday at 8 p.m. on CBC-TV and CBC Gem.
They’re among eight pairs in a live show that teams NHL, Olympic and professional hockey players with world- and Olympic-class figure skaters vying for a $100,000 donation to their charity of choice.
Friend and former contestant P.J. Stock encouraged Bickell, 34, to bring his compelling story and funloving nature to the series. Bickell’s wife, Amanda, and mother, Anne, are big fans of the show and encouraged him to do it, as well.
“This is a cool opportunity to do some good things for good people, have fun and bring awareness,” said Bickell, during a break from training.
His partner won the Season 5 title with Sheldon Kennedy.
“So the pressure is on me,” said Bickell, with a laugh.
With COVID-19 shutting many people in and live entertainment in short supply, the show’s timing is right.
“Hopefully this show can bring a lot of happiness and joy to people,” he said.
The six-foot-four, 223-pound Bickell was a bruising winger who loved to bang and crash; not the profile of a figure skater.
“The elegant and smooth player that I was — not really,” he said, with a chuckle. “I’m trying to work on the figure skating side.”
Despite his size, Bickell said he always had a smooth skating stride and while he’s stepped outside his comfort zone with toe picks, figure skates and choreography, he hopes to raise a few eyebrows.
“I’m pretty excited to get Thursday going and really show people, ‘Wow, this guy can actually kind of figure skate,’ ” said the Orono native who now lives in Newcastle.
Bickell’s family purchased a cottage near Marmora they’ve turned into a retreat for MS patients funded by his foundation.
Bickell said his drug therapy is helping manage his MS, but not everyone is as fortunate.
“There are people who have progressed to where they’re in wheelchairs and have a hard time doing day-to-day stuff. It’s affecting them and their families. We want to give these families retreats and the opportunity to not think about what they’re going through and have an opportunity they’re not able to have. Something I enjoy is being in the country and on the water fishing and enjoying family time as much as I can. Our foundation is going to support that and make happiness for families who are struggling.”
Bickell said it was tough having to retire early.
“There’s no cure so all you can do is maintain it and see where it goes. The unknown is the big question, but for right now my treatments are going good.
“Me and my family have always had the mindset to turn a negative into a positive. Obviously, this is a big negative in my life and my career but now we want to do positive things with it.
“Ontario is the No. 1 population in the world of people living with MS. We want to support and help people to not give up and have that positive mindset.
“There are always two paths; people can take the right path and some people take the wrong path. We want to have more people look at the light and the right way. That’s what drives me.”
Fatigue and weakness on his right side were the first signs something was wrong. While he manages well, Bickell admits he was a bit concerned about whether it might affect his “Battle of the Blades” performance.
“Balance is a big part of it. I still play hockey and I’m pretty active. I’m in OK shape for taking three years off. I was kind of skeptical at the start of lifting girls above my head,” he said. “Overall, it’s been pretty good. I’m excited to show the world.”
He likens the buildup to a big game.
“We’re all competitive and all the skaters are competitive. If you’re going to do something you might as well do it to win. We’re all in. I get all taped up like it’s a playoff game. All the old injuries I had in my career are catching up to me but it’s for a good cause.”
Weaver is a three-time Canadian ice dance champion, three-time world medallist and two-time Olympian.
“She knows how to bring the good out of me. Our chemistry is really good. Overall, she’s been awesome and I’m pretty thrilled to have the opportunity to skate with her.”