Bryan Bickell’s fight with MS has been well-documented throughout this past season and the NHL is going to honor him for his perseverance. On On November 11, 2016 he was officially diagnosed with the disease after suffering symptoms for over a year. The Carolina Hurricanes put him on the IR immediately but he made a triumphant return on April 6, 2017.
Following the game, Bickell hinted at retirement and made it official on April 8. He would play two more games with the Hurricanes and ended his career in dramatic fashion. Bicks would help seal a season ending win with a shootout goal and receive a classy sendoff from the organization.
Following the season, Bickell sold his home in Chicago and moved back to Canada. There, he has been spending a lot of time with his daughters and relaxing on his boat. He has also kept busy by continuing to raise awareness for MS and running his non-profit, the “Bryan and Amanda Bickell Foundation” when the NHL came calling.
“[The league] called me up to come here and I said, ‘why not?’ I had time to make it out here and enjoy some festivities,” Bickell said. “It’s kind of a finale where the respect of what I went through and the story I had this year, they’re going to do it [Wednesday] and it’s just the icing on the cake. It’ll be emotional but I’m going to try to keep it together.”
Bickell will have 90 seconds to speak after he receives his honor but I am sure he could go on much longer. At only 31, his career was cut too short but recently told the Chicago Tribune that “There is always life after hockey.”
“As the months have gone on I’m getting better. I’m slowing things down from the hockey life, working out, travel and all that. It’s less stressful and I’m enjoying time with my family,” Bickell said. “I’m feeling close to normal. I’m enjoying it and, for the next couple of days, enjoying this.”
Bickell’s perseverance and his passion for raising awareness are an inspiration. He is a great ambassador for the game and deserves every honor he receives. This Blackhawks fan is hoping that one of the next honors is “One More Shift” with the organization.
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