Bryan Bickell
A power forward whose clutch playoff goals helped build a hockey dynasty, then courageously shared his private health battle with the world.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 9·Millennials
Biography
Bryan Bickell’s story is one of quiet resilience and timely brilliance. Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004, the Ontario-born winger spent years honing his game in the minors before becoming an indispensable piece of a championship core. He wasn't always a headline name, but when the playoffs began, Bickell transformed. His physical, net-front presence and knack for critical goals—like his three game-winners during the 2013 Stanley Cup run—made him a fan favorite and a secret weapon. After a decade and three championships with Chicago, a trade to Carolina preceded a life-altering diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2016. Rather than retreat, Bickell played his final games while openly managing his condition, then retired and became a vocal advocate for MS awareness, shifting his legacy from on-ice grit to profound off-ice inspiration.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bryan was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Bryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.
- Scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the 2013 Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings.
- Recorded 17 points in 23 games during the Blackhawks' 2013 championship playoff run.
- Played in 384 regular-season NHL games, scoring 66 goals and 66 assists.
Did You Know?
He was drafted 41st overall in 2004, the same draft that produced Blackhawks teammates Jonathan Toews and Dave Bolland.
He and his wife, Amanda, founded the "Bickell Foundation" to support animal welfare and families affected by MS.
His final NHL goal, scored with Carolina in 2017, was a shorthanded tally.
He famously scored a goal from his knees during a 2013 playoff game against the Boston Bruins.
“You don't need to score fifty goals, just be there when it matters.”
