Wild to wear #24 for Rumble

The Wenatchee Wild will wear No. 24 on their helmets during the Robertson Cup playoffs in a show of support for Chris Rumble, a former defenseman with the team and current front office employee, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

Rumble, who wore No. 24 with the Wild, is in good spirits and surrounded by family and friends at a Seattle hospital, where he has begun chemotherapy and other treatments that will last roughly six months, he said.

Word of Rumble’s diagnosis traveled quickly, and he is touched to know how many people in the community have inquired about his condition.

“Wenatchee is a place like no other,” Rumble said via text message, “it’s where I call home.”

Fans are encouraged to send email well-wishes to Rumble at crumble@live.com.

Rumble was a mainstay on the Wild blue line for two seasons (2009-10, 2010-11). He recorded 19 points (3G, 16A) and was plus-24 in 42 games in 2009-10. He was even better in his second season with the club when he notched 31 points (7G, 24A) and was plus-8 in 46 games.

Rumble played in 12 playoff games in his two seasons with the Wild, including three games during the 2010 Robertson Cup Championship Tournament, which was held at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. He also played in two Top Prospects Tournaments during his career, including the NAHL’s second tournament in 2011, where his three points helped Team West capture the title at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Last season, Rumble wrote and directed “Into the Ice,” a junior hockey documentary of the Wild’s 2010-11 season. The film was released in the fall.

Rumble joined the Wild front office for the 2011-12 season where he has worked on a variety of media-related projects, including production of “Into the Ice II,” his second documentary film.