Carolina Hurricanes: Stelio Mattheos story and his fight with cancer.

Stelio Mattheos is a prospect who has been given all sorts of adversity to overcome. Not regarded as the highest of talents, he has gone through things that no one should ever go through, and yet, he’s still there. Playing hockey, doing what he loves. The inspiring story of Stelio Mattheos is enough to move anyone, but this is a player you have to cheer for.

Mattheos was drafted in the 3rd round, 73rd overall, during the 2017 NHL entry draft from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. At 6’1, 200 lbs, this right-handed forward can play either center or right-wing. At the age of 22, you’re probably wondering “what is so special about this guy if he’s a little older than two of the top six?” and there’s a very good reason. We’ll get to that though.

In his draft year, Mattheos put up 26 goals and 35 assists for 61 points in 69 games as a Brandon Wheat King. Nice totals. It was what really put him on the map as a decent prospect and where he showed most of his potential. Since then, he’s had a good course of steady development as he has matured.

In the 2017-18 season, he recorded 43 goals and 47 assists for 90 points in 68 WHL games. This is the kind of production everyone was hoping for. He flashed his upside big time and became a beacon of hope in the Carolina pipeline. He was developing well and looked like he would have genuine NHL upside if he could develop. This was the birth of a future Carolina Hurricane it looked like.

In 2018-19, he threw up 44 goals and 52 assists in 65 WHL games and played his first eight games in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, recording 2 goals and 1 assist in that time frame. Mattheos was making steady steps towards the big leagues, and it looked like he was going to become a Hurricane in a few years. However, life is always difficult.

Just two days after winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, Mattheos was diagnosed with testicular cancer. One of the best feelings a player can feel in capturing a championship is quickly dismissed with one diagnosis. It was a fight that he would go through off the ice, and thankfully, he would come out on top.

After three rounds of chemotherapy and surgery to remove a testicle, Mattheos returned to the gym and getting himself into shape, and would work his way back to being fit enough to take to the ice. That in itself is something remarkable because no one could have said a word if he decided to stop then and there.

Later that season, Mattheos would join the Checkers again and would take to the ice, cancer-free. He would record three goals and three assists in his 16 games that season, but that was not what was important. After that, the world shut down. COVID-19 forced everything across the world to come to a standstill, and the AHL season would be abandoned.

In the following season, Mattheos would go between the AHL and ECHL as the Chicago Wolves were the joint affiliate of the Canes and Nashville Predators. At the AHL level, he would find himself with two assists in six games. In three ECHL games, he did not record a point. However, that’s not the point.

Stelio Mattheos serves as a reminder for everyone to enjoy their time and treasure what they have because you can lose it all in an instant. Mattheos is still on his entry-level contract until the end of this season when he is a restricted free agent, should Carolina tender a qualifying offer. But this player has a story worth following. From the Calder Cup to Chemotherapy, Mattheos really has seen it all.

Question for Cardiac Cane readers: What is your favorite Stelio Mattheos moment?