The winger was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2004 and made his team debut in 2007. During his tenure with the team, Bickell won Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. In the 2015 playoffs, Bickell experienced vertigo like symptoms that affected his performance then in the following season he played for the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs.
As part of a multiplayer trade, Bickell joined the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2016/2017 season, however he continued to experience health issues, including unexplained pain in shoulder and leg. In November, the player was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and placed on injured reserved. He has continued to receive treatment and began to train again with the Hurricanes AHL team, the Charlotte Checkers. On the 5th of April, Bickell made his first NHL appearance since November, but today (8th) has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
“I’ve made the decision with my family that I’m going to call it quits, so it’s just these last two games.
Away from the ice, Bryan has a wife and two daughters, and is the founder of the Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation, which rescues abused pitbulls, and uses them to help abused children. Today, Bickell and his family participated in a WalkMS event, and was surprised by his team-mates who also turned up.
We wish Bryan and his family all the best for the future and wish him well in his fight against MS.