[hockeychicka]

Jason Blake has been diagnosed with leukemia.

TORONTO -- Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.

Blake said he got the test results back Friday and broke the news to his teammates on Monday at the Air Canada Centre. He has chronic myelogenous leukemia, a slow-growing cancer of the white blood cells.

The 34-year-old left-winger has already started treatment, is in no immediate danger and shouldn't miss any playing time.

"When you find out that you have something it's definitely shattering to your whole family and so on," an emotional Blake said after practice. "Overall I feel good. I'm still here and my goal this whole season hasn't changed. Obviously you take a step back and you kind of re-evaluate everything but for the most part I feel good.

"I think to get it off my chest and to move forward is a big weight lifted."

The 34-year-old native of Moorhead, Minn., signed a US$20-million, five-year deal with the Leafs in the off-season. The team said that while Blake's on-ice performance is not expected to be affected, he will be monitored closely by both the team's physician and his CML specialist.

"I think the prognosis is outstanding," team doctor Noah Forman said. "He's taking medication which he has already started, it's a daily medication, and it should definitely put the condition under really good control and allow him to continue on with a long and healthy life -- as well as his career.