Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Emotional Bickell makes a mark in his last NHL game
PHILADELPHIA >> Bryan Bickell was part of three Stanley Cup championship teams in Chicago, but when he took the Wells Fargo Center ice Sunday, he was probably coming off the most emotional day of his NHL career.
Bickell, just 31, was playing his last NHL game when he lined up for the Carolina Hurricanes. He was diagnosed in November with multiple sclerosis, and after a season battling it and working his way back in the minors, he returned Tuesday night to the ‘Canes’ lineup in a game in Minnesota.
Carolina played its last home game of the season Saturday night against St. Louis, and during a stoppage in the third period at PNC Arena, a tribute to Bickell ensued. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, players from both teams greeted him.
This was just hours after Bickell was helping chair an MS Society charity fundraising walk, and his teammates showed up to join in as a surprise.
Despite working his way back to the team he joined via a trade last offseason, Bickell did officially announce his retirement Saturday, effective at the end of the Flyers game. He had told the Raleigh News & Observer that, “The biggest thing is my health, and I don’t want to take risks. It’s tough to leave, but I’m excited about life after hockey, and I want to be healthy.”
Bickell was honored with a tribute early in the first period at Wells Fargo Center Sunday night and again received a huge ovation. Much to the delight and surprise of those fans, Bickell was called upon by Hurricanes coach Bill Peters to take the Hurricanes’ first attempt when the game Sunday wound down to a shootout round.
“As the hockey gods would have it,” Bickell said with a smile ... he scored. What ensued was a mob scene at the Carolina bench, Bickell in the middle of it all. The rest of the shootout ... it could wait. But he’d made a difference in what became a 4-3 shootout win over the Flyers.
“I think I had sweated all the tears out,” Bickell said. “I don’t have much left. It’s been an emotional week, leading to this day.”
At that point, however, Bickell proved he hadn’t sweated all the emotion out.
“Seeing my family here,” he said, voice cracking, “and all the people that supported me through it all ... I’m just happy.”
Reminded that he scored a goal on his last shot, he added, “Yeah, that does feel kind of good to think of it.
“And to think that the first time I lifted the Cup was in Philly (in 2010) and that it ended here,” Bickell added, “you kind of think of all the memories, all the support and the people that helped lead to this moment. It kind of all rushes in at once. I’m just happy to have them support me and believe in me to do what I’ve loved.”