Bickell rejoins Hurricanes
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Just seven games into his debut season with the Carolina Hurricanes, after realizing his body wasn’t quite right, Bryan Bickell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The devastating news triggered questions about whether his career would be over. Those first few weeks of his hiatus for treatment were tough.
The nearly five months that have since passed felt, at times, like years.
Finally, as a testament to modern medicine, family support and an optimistic attitude, Bickell has returned to restart his first season with the National Hockey League team. The 30-year-old left winger skated with the Hurricanes on Tuesday morning in Minnesota and was in the lineup to face the Wild a few hours later.
“We’re just happy it got better and I got back on the ice and playing,” said Bickell, who was recalled from a 10-game minor league tune-up.
Bickell resumed practising with the Hurricanes in January and began playing for Charlotte in the American Hockey League in February, accumulating one goal and three assists for the Checkers. His timing was off and his fundamentals were rusty, but there weren’t any complications or setbacks.
“Definitely blessed,” Bickell said. “We didn’t know when this day was going to come, but I’m happy to be here.”
Bickell hoped to connect in person with former Wild goalie Josh Harding, who won the NHL’s Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012. Harding went 18-7-3 with a 1.65 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage during the 2013-14 season for the Wild, before eventually being forced by the effects of his condition to retire. Harding has already provided ample counsel to Bickell.
Hurricanes coach Bill Peters slated Bickell for a line with Brock McGinn and Andrew Poturalski, who played with Bickell in the AHL and was making his NHL debut. There were no limitations planned for Bickell.