NHL veteran and first-year New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone-marrow cancer that the team’s doctor says can be treated with medication.
Incredibly, the 32-year-old Boyle still hopes to play in the Devils’ opener on October 7 against the Colorado Avalanche, although the team has yet to put out a timetable for his return.
‘I don’t like missing games,’ he said Tuesday. ‘I feel as close to normal as you can feel.’
Brian Boyle was diagnosed with leukemia last week but still hopes to play in the New Jersey Devils’ season opener against the Colorado Avalanche on October 7
The disease was discovered last week in Boyle’s blood work, which was taken during team physicals at the beginning of training camp, Devils general manager Ray Shero explained Tuesday. Team doctor Michael Farber said the disease was discovered early.
‘Relative to that big ugly L word [leukemia], it’s good news,’ Boyle said.
Former NHL forward Jason Blake played with the same form of leukemia during the 2007 season.
When Boyle was a teenager, his father survived kidney and lung cancer
Boyle inked a two-year, $5.5 million deal over the offseason. He previously played for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, developing a reputing as a gritty, defensive-minded center while registering 169 points in 624 NHL games.
‘I feel very fortunate, very blessed,’ Boyle said. ‘We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of prayers, and if there’s anything I can ask is that that continues, because that’s something I’ve seen firsthand heal cancers and heal situations that were said to be untreatable.’
Boyle’s father survived kidney and lung cancer during Boyle’s teenage years.
‘For us, we’re in a good spot, we have a good plan of attack here, and I’m looking forward to getting on the ice and playing,’ he continued. ‘When that happens, I don’t know, but my mindset is on October 7.’
Boyle is awaiting further test results over the next few days and expect treatment to begin soon thereafter.