Devils’ Brian Boyle says his cancer is in remission

New-Jersey-Devils-forward-Brian-Boyle-waves-to-the-crowd-as-he-skates-before-the-Skills-Competition,-part-of-the-NHL-All-Star-Game-events,-Saturday,-Jan.-27,-2018,-in-Tampa,-Fla.-(Jason-Behnken/AP)

New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle waves to the crowd. (Jason Behnken/AP)

New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle told NHL.com that his cancer is in remission.

Boyle was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia before the start of last season, after signing a two-year $5.1-million contract with the Devils in the summer.

It caused him to miss training camp and the start of the season, but he made his Devils debut on Nov. 1.

He wound up with 13 goals and 23 points in 69 games, en route to winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

The 6-foot-6 centre has three goals and one assist in nine contests this year.

“A test (BCR-ABL1) looks for the leukemia cells in your blood and when I was first diagnosed, it was at 75 per cent,” said Boyle. “At the end of last season, it was at .08 per cent, and in July I was .04 per cent. The results showed all zeros on Monday.

“It’s full molecular remission, and I feel really good. It was kind of the way the progression was happening the last few tests. When I told my wife, she was excited and got emotional.”

The 33-year-old has also played for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs in his 12-year NHL career.

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