Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – The Philadelphia Flyers announced
Thursday that defenseman Kimmo Timonen will begin skating Friday.
The 39-year-old Timonen has not played since being diagnosed with blood clots
in his leg and lungs in his native Finland back in early August.
Timonen will skate by himself on Friday. It will mark the first time in eight
months that the veteran has skated.
Recently, Timonen underwent a series of tests in January to determine if he
could attempt a comeback. He and the team had a series of meetings with
doctors to evaluate and understand the results to see if there was a risk of
returning to the ice.
When speaking with the media in Philadelphia during the first intermission of
the Flyers’ game against the Islanders on Thursday night, Timonen said the
blood clot in his leg is chronic and that he has been assured by doctors that
it will not move.
“I kept that hope alive,” said Timonen. “I worked out really hard and meeting
all the doctors, with Hexy (Ron Hextall) and the specialists. I feel really
confident about skating and coming back.”
Timonen, his mother and two brothers have a protein C deficiency, which causes
a greater disposition to blood clots. According to the National Institutes of
Health, a mild case of protein C deficiency affects 1 in 500 people.
In 77 games last season, Timonen posted six goals with 29 assists for 35
points.
