Broncos Pats Black 570x380
Graham Black against Regina (Photo by Darwin Knelsen)

Swift Current Broncos forward Graham Black has been playing this hockey season and much of his young career with the burden of Graves' disease.

It's an autoimmune disorder that leads to over-activity of the thyroid gland.

Black is hoping relief is coming as he's getting radioactive iodine treatment Wednesday in Regina. It should address the symptoms that have flared up again this year.

Interview with Graham Black"It's just supposed to help me sleep better, focus better, put on weight," Black said. "I'll have way more energy during the day and just be all around happier. It's going to be a great change in my life."

He has been dealing with the impact of Graves' disease throughout much of his life. It impacted his physical development and limited his early opportunities in hockey. Black wasn't picked in the WHL bantam draft and didn't make the league until he was 18. The Regina product scored 50 points in his rookie season and still managed to get his name called in last spring's NHL draft by New Jersey.

"It's been a burden for half my life now," Black said. "It's kind of come back this season and I lost a ton of weight at the beginning of the year. I've just been having quite a tough time dealing with it... (the treatment) is such a relief and I've been looking forward to it."

Black at times has gone several days without sleeping.

"It's going to be a huge change to come with a full night's sleep coming into games," Black added. "I'm really looking forward to what it feels like without this disease bringing me down."

Despite battling the impacts of Graves' disease, Black has still scored 19 goals and 17 assists over 46 games this season. He's expecting to be right back in the lineup when Swift Current hosts Regina on Friday.

The Broncos are riding a six game winning streak into games with the Pats on Friday and Moose Jaw on Saturday at the Credit Union iPlex. We'll have the games for you on The Eagle 94.1 FM with The New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.