Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Eamon Queeney—The North State Journal
A goal

RALEIGH — The Hurricanes announced Friday that forward Bryan Bickell has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Bickell, 30, joined the Hurricanes this summer after a trade with Chicago that brought him and Teuvo Teravainen to Carolina.”Since the 2015 playoffs, I’ve been struggling to understand what was going on with my body,” Bickell said in a statement. “Again during the past few weeks, it felt like something wasn’t right. Obviously this is a bit of shock for my family and me, but I am hopeful I will be able to return to the ice and continue playing the game that I love.”Bickell played seven games with the Hurricanes this season, scoring one goal — the game-winner in the home opener against the New York Rangers.”First and foremost, the most important thing is for Bryan to take care of himself and our thoughts are with him and his family,” general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. “He will need to take some time to rest in the immediate future, and we will support him as he takes the necessary steps for his health. We ask that his privacy be respected during the process.”Bickell won three Stanley Cups with Blackhawks, and played for coach Bill Peters when he coached Chicago’s AHL affiliate in Rockford during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.Multiple sclerosis is the most common autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. The disease disrupts communication between the brain and the body.