Rodion Amirov speaks for the first time since receiving his diagnosis
By now, news of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov having been diagnosed with a brain tumour has stretched far across Leafs Nation and the broader hockey community. Most of us can't even begin to comprehend what he, his family, his friends, his teammates and everyone close to him must be going through.
Amirov had the opportunity to speak with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman about his illness and while our default setting may be to be concerned or saddened about the news, the 20-year-old winger told Sportsnet that he would prefer it if people would remain positive.
"I want to stay positive, and I want people to think positively about me. There are many other people that have their own sicknesses or illnesses. I want to show by example that I can give people hope."
The Russian winger's plan is not to sit around and feel sorry for himself. He plans to follow in the footsteps of players like Brian Boyle and Oskar Lindblom, who have had their own bouts with cancer, both overcoming it and both going on to continue their careers afterward.
Amirov plans to post his skates and workouts on social media so that people can see that he is doing everything in his power to remain active and as healthy and as happy as possible throughout his fight.
"They can see what I am doing, they hopefully take some positives. I am positive. I want to feel that I can play in the best hockey league in the world."
In terms of how it has impacted his life and his hockey career so far, Amirov says he hasn't skipped a beat.
"I'm living a normal life. I'm continuing to practice, to skate, to go to the gym. The doctors support [that] I continue on. I shoot, work on my hands, basically the same drills I would do normally, but by myself."
You can read the full interview provided in the twitter link below:
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Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
