Carolina Hurricanes prospect Stelio Mattheos will miss training camp this year as he completes treatments for testicular cancer, the team announced Monday.
Mattheos was diagnosed with testicular cancer in June - two days after helping the AHL's Charlotte Checkers claim the 2019 Calder Cup. He underwent surgery to remove one testicle and has since completed multiple courses of chemotherapy over the past two months.
The 20-year-old is expected to return to full health and will resume training for the 2019-20 season once his treatments are complete and he receives clearance from doctors.
"I'd like to thank everyone who reached out to offer support and well wishes since the diagnosis," Mattheos said. "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."
Mattheos, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-winger, was the Hurricanes' third-round pick in the 2017 draft. After tallying 96 points in 65 WHL games in 2018-19, he joined the Checkers down the stretch, skating in 11 regular season contests and 14 playoff tilts, recording a total of seven points.
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