MONTREAL -- Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his abdomen and will begin chemotherapy treatment.

The team issued a statement Wednesday on Koivu's condition and said the player had asked that no other details be released.

		Thurs., Sept. 13 Everybody is praying for Saku Koivu, not only because he's a great hockey player, but mostly because he's a great person. Nobody has ever met him that didn't like him immediately. He is a giver in life, not a taker. His personal battle overrides the importance of any effect on the Montreal Canadiens. The hockey aspect becomes a moot point. Hockey is just a sport, and we're talking about someone's life at stake. He's a great player and a great person -- period. It shouldn't matter to me or anyone else how it will impact the Canadiens.

Koivu, 26, began feeling extremely ill on a flight from his homeland of Finland to Montreal last Monday. He went to see team Dr. David Mulder immediately after arriving and was admitted to Montreal General Hospital for tests.

The results, released last Wednesday, showed a large amount of fluid in his stomach containing malignant cells, and Koivu underwent biopsy surgery that day.

News of his illness left his teammates in a state of shock, though they remained on schedule in training camp.

Koivu's career has been marked by injuries. He has not played a full season in the NHL since 1995-96, missing 28 games last season with a knee injury that required surgery.

The center was picked earlier this year for Finland's Olympic hockey team.

The New York-based Cure for Lymphoma Foundation's Web site defines the illness as a cancer of the lymph system, part of the body's immune system. The Web site also says that many cases of lymphoma, if detected early enough, are curable.

What is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

The following is an edited excerpt from www.mayoclinic.com, the web site of the Mayo Clinic: "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of your lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network that is spread throughout your body. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors develop from white blood cells (lymphocytes) in your lymphatic system, often at different locations in your body. "Normally, lymphocytes go through a predictable life cycle. Old lymphocytes die, and your body creates new ones to replace them. But in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, your body produces abnormal lymphocytes that continue to divide and grow without control. This oversupply of lymphocytes crowds into your lymph nodes, causing them to swell. The disease occurs in more than 20 types. "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma accounts for about 4 percent of all new cancers in the United States. The disease is about eight times more common than the other general type of lymphoma — Hodgkin's disease. "And, although the incidence has increased, so has the survival rate. Today, the overall 5-year survival rate is about 50 percent. In many subtypes, the 5-year survival rate is about 75 percent."

Koivu's diagnosis was delivered to the club by team president Pierre Boivin. The players were very concerned.

"That's what was said today: that it's treatable and it's beatable," defenseman Sheldon Souray said. "I think as soon as you hear that, you're optimistic. A week ago it was a little more somber, but today, after hearing that news, you could just see there was a little pickup in everyone's spirits."

Brian Savage said the uncertainty had Koivu most concerned.

"The unknown bothered Saku," Savage said. "Now that he knows what type of cancer it is, and knows what he has to do, I think he's got a better focus. It's good news, it's cancer that can be treatable.

"Saku was very positive and upbeat (Tuesday) night, and he's ready to fight this."

"If there's anyone in this dressing room who could deal with something like this, it's Saku because he has been through so much," goalie Jeff Hackett said.

"We know Saku's going to be back ... He's the leader of this team and to not go out and be professionals would be a discredit to what he brings to this room."