Much of Chicago Blackhawks nation was heartbroken upon hearing the news that Bryan Bickell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It explained a great many things, including his strange decline from near-super stardom following his epic run through the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. No human should have to deal with such a terrifying disease.
Even so he made his return to the Carolina Hurricanes, allowed to finish out what would be his last season of professional hockey before having to retire. Turns out he may have the gods in his corner for this fight as they helped him go out in style. The Hurricanes had battled the Philadelphia Flyers through three periods and overtime to a shootout situation.
After the Flyers missed their opening attempt, it fell on Bickell to try giving his team the lead. What happened next was jam packed with all the feels.
#BickellBrave: Watch @bbicks29 score the first goal in the shootout in his last @NHL game! pic.twitter.com/LhZr0AHIF7
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) April 10, 2017
Bryan Bickell and the good ending
It was exactly the sort of ending Hollywood movies are made of. That goal gave the Hurricanes their 36th victory of the season. The explosion of emotions from his teammates on the bench told the whole story. No doubt many of his former mates in Chicago felt the same way when they saw it.
Bickell will remain one of the all-time fan favorites in Blackhawks history. A hard-hitting wild man with a deadly stick for scoring clutch goals. He had double digit goals three times in a five-year span when he played for Chicago. His one-timer to tie up Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals will forever be immortalized in hockey history. Part of the greatest 17-second span Hawks fans will ever know.
Hopefully he doesn’t have to stray too far from the game after he’s done playing. Such men are good for the league and he can almost certainly find work.
