The Carolina Hurricanes will be without prospect Stelio Mattheos during training camp next month as the forward undergoes treatment for testicular cancer.
“I’d like to thank everyone who reached out to offer support and well wishes since the diagnosis,” said Mattheos in a statement via the Hurricanes. “I’ve had amazing support from my friends, family, teammates, coaches and all of the hockey organizations I’ve been a part of, including the Hurricanes, Checkers and Brandon Wheat Kings.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to my surgeon, Dr. Sabeer Rehsia, and all of the staff at Grace Hospital, as well as Dr. Piotr Czaykowski at Cancer Care Manitoba and all of the nurses on the chemotherapy ward.”
According to the team, Winnipeg native was diagnosed in June, two days after helping the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers win the Calder Cup and three days before his 20th birthday. Mattheos, a third-round pick in 2017, underwent surgery to remove one testicle and has been through multiple rounds of chemotherapy this summer.
Mattheos, who’s expected to make a full recovery, played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Brandon Wheat Kings before signing an entry-level deal and joining up with the Checkers in March. He played 11 regular season games and 14 in the playoffs. Once his treatments are finished and he’s given the green light, he can resume training and work his way back to returning to the lineup.
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Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.