Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Leafs' Blake diagnosed with leukemia

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 9:25 AM EST 09/10/07

Toronto forward says condition is highly treatable and will not affect his ability to perform at a high level ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. wayne powers from saskatoon, writes: Another crackerjack job by the Leafs Medical Staff, any other team would have caught this before he signed a big contract. These guys are a joke and how any player would trust his health to them is nuts. I guess it's just another chapter in How Not To Run A Hockey Team.
  2. Kevin Dooley from Canada writes: Sounds like Michael Peca and Eric Lindros all over again. The Leafs have become the semi-retirement team for aging and ailing former players. Oh well, one day we'll get a real GM.
  3. The Middle Finger ..I.. from Canada writes: I love Leaf fans. Game one is played and the season is over already.
  4. S. Ives from Ottawa, Canada writes: Another cracker job by the commentators.

    The medical staff are not doing blood tests for leukemia, they are doing blood tests for chemical aids.

    See how his season pans out before venting further.
  5. K M from Canada writes: S. Ives from Ottawa, Canada writes: Another cracker job by the commentators.

    You said it S. Ives. The A-holes come out of the woodwork and there will be a few more no doubt.
  6. E A from Canada writes: Wow. First three posters - thanks for your useless and disgusting comments.

    I have been very impressed with Blake in the early going this year, and I wish him all the best, regardless of the hockey outcome.
  7. Clark The Mighty Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: He's a terrific hockey player. And I wish him well. He might actually play better with this motivation.

    However, I suspect a slimey and incompetent GM like fergaSON will use this 'sad story' to try to get a contract extension.

    'Oh, you can't fire me when we had such heart-breaking issues this year.'

    I feel your pain (for my own benefit) works well in Toronto...look at the LIAR Dalton Mcquinty!
  8. THX 1138 from Victoria, BC, Canada writes: Is the anti-Leaf sentiment from some posters so venomous that they ignore the fact Blake has a form of leukemia? I'll bet if Blake played for their teams the opinion would differ. What difference does it make who Blake suits up for? Get over yourselves, eat some turkey, fall asleep in front of the TV, whatever. Don't make it personal.
  9. Kevin Dooley from Canada writes: I'm not anti-Leaf, I'm 100% pro-Leaf. I'm just anti-Ferguson.
  10. Hydrogen Bob from Toronto, Canada writes: How about best wishes for a speedy recovery?
  11. Hory Crapp from Canada writes: Blake will play as he normally does, as this issue will not affect his physical ability to play the game... I wish him and his family well....On the other hand there could be only one reason for the media to publish someone's personal life, I'm sure it is most likely done to raise awareness, and why not?... I will certainly make my donation as should every other poster who has a bit of respect and compassion....
  12. Patricia Thornton from Canada writes: As someone who watched Saku Koivu's fight and victory over an insidious disease, I will watch Jason Blake the same way. Thank goodness these guys are in such great shape, in good disease-fighting condition to overcome some hideous stuff. Fight, Jason, fight! Peace.
  13. Greg D from Waterloo, Canada writes: I guess no article, no matter how serious, can be free of people (and I use that term loosely) who just feel the urge to completely disregard the topic at hand. Is it so difficult to swallow your pride?

    Anyways now that that's off my chest, I hope for a speedy recovery for Blake. Having lost a grandpa to leukemia, I am surprised but relieved that his form is treatable and that he has a highly positive outlook.
  14. Arron D from Stan's Home, Canada writes: That really sucks. He's a good player who really helped the Bud's pick up the pace. The team needs him, I hope he gets better sooner.
  15. Robert McKenzie from Ottawa, writes: As passionate Sens fan and a passionate Leaf Nation agitator on the forums, I also have the highest regards for anyone good enough an athlete to play in the NHL - so best wishes to Blake and his family for a full and speedy recovery.

    The Sens and their fans need a complete Leafs team to feel somewhat satisfied when repeatedly beating the boys in blue....
  16. R A from Canada writes: I dont know anything about the disease but I wish him nothing but the best of health and a speedy recovery...

    Robert McKenzie - somehow I would expected a comment like that from you...
  17. Walt Cummings from Canada writes: Good to hear some positive remarks from Leaf and Sens fans alike to offset the 2 idiots who posted first.

    Best of luck to Blake for a speedy recovery.
  18. David Lee from Toronto, Canada writes: May I add some information... If you've Wikipedia'ed the disease, it points to a study that shows a median survival age of 98 months for an asymptomatic group, where Blake's most likely to fit in (after all, he just played 3 NHL games last week), with the longest surviving at less than 10 years. However, at least right now, the article omits that this study was done before imatinib mesylate was approved by FDA for clinical use in 2001. Also known as Gleevec, it has really improved the survival rate of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Best wishes for him and his family.

    And for the first three posters... please either get a life or end it, it's not working out.
  19. Martin MacCool from Fort McMurray, Canada writes: I hate the Leafs, but best wishes to Jason Blake and his family.
  20. wayne powers from saskatoon, writes: Why is Wellwood out, how did they screw up so much with Lindros, how often was Tucker out. The medical staff are a bunch of screwups, this is not about Blake, stuff happens but the way minor injuries end up lasting for months. But when a team is making as much money as this team they can afford the best medical staff, and this is far from the best.
  21. R J from St. Catharines, Canada writes: How anyone can blame the leafs medical staff is just beyond stupid.
    I detest the leafs, but this is something that they wouldn't have been able to detect. Blake himself just found out Friday.

    Again, I despise the leafs, but Blake was always one of my favourite american born players
  22. ray ittac from Canada writes: All the best to Blake and family and I hope his strong effort to start the season continues. When a story like this breaks, you really have to wonder about people who use it to further their personal agendas. I remeber that idiot last year who dragged the Jordan Manners shooting into a sens/leafs argument. Gotta be some ice water in those veins to immediately skip past the heart of the story and attack those you dislike. Perhaps they should join a sado-masochistic blog somehwere and be happy amongst their own.
  23. J P from Toronto, Canada writes: Those of you who are using this as an opportunity to berate the hockey club or its general manager should be ashamed of yourselves - the man has a life threatening illness and deserves nothing but the best wishes. Is this how you talked about Saku Koivu or Phil Kessel when they got sick - how about Mario Lemeiux. Have a little class. I hope you're never affected by this disease and you never get an opportunity to see how it feels.
  24. L. W. from Greener Pastures, Canada writes: Fight hard Jason. Being a Cancer survivor is a great thing.
    On another note, I find it hard to believe that there are so many in the world that have absolutley no comprehention of the word 'hate'
    I feel sorry for those that use that word. How sad their life must be.
  25. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Best of luck to Jason Blake in overcomng leukemia. I'm a Habs fan and followed Saku Koivu's progress while he fought through his cancer and hope Blake's outcome is just as successful. I'd like to see Blake on the ice for many, many years.
  26. Allan Hewitson from Kitimat, B.C., Canada writes: My congratulations to Jason Blake for his positive fighting attitude to this disease. Keep going...but at the same time, I urge you to put your faith in your own doctors, and use Leafs' medical staff as a second opinion. Their advice with Wellwood, Tucker and even Lindros leaves big holes in their credibility levels. You should make sure YOUR medical advisor is in charge -- and get better, with everybody's good wishes to support you
  27. tweety pie from London, Canada writes: Best wishes to Blake, but man that Ferguson, what a loser he is. How can you not know about Blake's condition? Poor Poor Leafs. Are they ever going to get it right?
    PLEASE GET RID OF FERGUSON NOW!!!!
  28. Brandan Matchett from halifax, Canada writes: The leafs are used to adversity. This could be the spark that pulls this team together. Blake has 2 points in the first 3 games so he is performing already.

    Best wishes to the Blake family.

    Most of you posting on this board should first google backhanded compliment, then google poor taste.
  29. Another Pundit from Canada writes: Hope that you have a speedy recovery, Mr. Blake. Sens fans are pulling for you and hope you and your family can put this behind you soon...
  30. Trilly B from Canada writes: Best wishes to Mr. Blake and his family. Stay positive!
  31. Thumb Sucker from Canada writes: Saku can do it, so can Blake. I hope he scores 40 goals this year.
  32. ray ittac from Canada writes: tweety pie from London---you're a vulture! Doesn't take more than a whine to complain about a situation like this. Fact: No team screens for cancer..they screen for steroids and other illicit drugs as per NHL policy. fact: He was just diagnosed with the illness. Fact: His health more important than your whining about Ferguson. My life would be alot better if fergie was the Ottawa GM...kills two birds with one stone. However, this situation isn't anyone's 'fault' and deserves a bit more empathy than you display.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top