FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After being diagnosed with testicular cancer on Dec. 3, Alaska hockey's sophomore forward Brennan Blaszczak will return to Fairbanks on Thursday to complete the remainder of the 2018-19 hockey season and academic year at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Blaszczak was diagnosed with stage one testicular cancer in Fairbanks on Dec. 3 before having the tumor successfully removed near his hometown of Troy, Michigan on Dec. 18. Thankfully, Blaszczak will not have to undergo any chemotherapy or radiation and is cleared to start working out with the team again on Feb. 1.

"I am extremely thankful for the amazing support group around me in Fairbanks, as well as back home," Blaszczak said on Thursday. "I'm fortunate enough to say chemo isn't necessary and I can get back up to school and be around the team again."

Blaszczak has appeared in 16 games for the Nanooks this season, registering one goal and two assists for three points. Following his cancer diagnosis on Monday, Dec. 3, Blaszczak appeared in the lineup for back-to-back games against Lake Superior State in Fairbanks Dec. 7-8, registering one assist and a plus-one rating.

Blaszczak, a Business Administration major at UAF, has appeared in 18 games throughout his two-year career with the Nanooks, tallying one goal and three assists for four points.

"We are very excited to have Brennan back on campus and in our locker room," Alaska Nanooks hockey head coach Erik Largen said. "He has had such a positive impact on us on and off the ice and we have truly missed his presence. He is a strong person who is going to use this adversity to only get stronger."

Blaszczak becomes the second Alaska Nanook hockey player to have been diagnosed with testicular cancer in back-to-back years, following senior defenseman Jack Weiss' diagnosis in December of 2017. Weiss underwent chemotherapy treatment in the spring of 2018 before successfully defeating the cancer and making his debut back in the Alaska Nanooks lineup on Oct. 6 vs. Arizona State.

The Alaska Nanooks hockey team returns to the Carlson Center this weekend for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against the No. 9 Bowling Green Falcons this Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19. Puck-drop both nights is scheduled for 7:07pm AKST.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.