The debut of three-time cancer survivor Francis is “incredible” | theahl.com

Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer

For weeks, months, months – San Diego Seagulls have been playing a game in a high pressure hockey game to qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs.

Their playoff hopes have failed, but with their 2024-25 schedule ending, the Seagulls still have plenty of games to choose from. When they visited the Coachella Valley Firebirds, they reminded that Sunday night that the game brought several important moments to the team.

goalkeeper Calle Clang Within two months after the injury returned, his first start. Roland McKeown Forced to work overtime at the last minute of the regulations Nico MyatovicThe championship completed a 4-3 comeback victory in San Diego.

Then the defender Will Francis Bring ice for the seagulls in his professional hockey debut. Just like many players jumping to the AHL late in the season, it’s an opportunity to impress, learn about professional games and bring something positive in the summer.

But for Anaheim’s sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Francis has reached that point, marking a longer journey, not just a few years. In March 2020, Francis was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, blood and bone marrow cancer.

Francis, who was only 19 years old at the time, sat down for the entire 2020-21 season. His 2021-22 freshman season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth is limited to five games.

He completed treatment and played the entire season in 2022-23, but he relapsed in August 2023 and brought redshirts for the 2023-24 season. Francis received a bone marrow transplant last April but relapsed in the fall. He returned to the roster on March 8 after a third round of chemotherapy and played two games before the Bulldogs’ season ended.

All in all, Francis has played only 37 games in four years at UMD.

Both the Ducks and the Seagulls missed the playoffs this spring, and there will be an impression as the organization prepares to enter the offseason. The late-season games, especially for a team that won’t make the Calder Cup playoffs, often feature a series of new faces in the Global League. There are systems to learn to learn, handle higher paces, and a locker room full of brand new teammates.

This is also the time to start new relationships and bonds into next season. Francis was unable to guarantee a current trial agreement with San Diego at the age of 24. Leukemia has limited his ice time and development over the past five years, although of course it can be said that he has been tested enough mentally and emotionally.

The San Diego list looks like next October is still largely determined. Francis has a chance to show off the roster he can launch next season. It’s also an opportunity for his teammates to see the effort and perseverance he carried with him from the day in Vancouver in 2019 to Sunday’s career draft pick.

“We’re happy to host his first professional game,” Gouls head coach Matt McIlvane Tell reporters on Sunday. “Not only are people like this, but hockey players like this – you’re glad to have people like this around the organization.”

All these setbacks may have been sufficient since the first diagnosis. Engaged in college hockey, say nothing about hockey, and has enough inherent barriers before adding a serious health condition. This is twice and triple every successive setback and relapse. For anyone, the feeling of “we’re back here again” is understandable. However, these setbacks also had a strengthening effect on Francis, as the year extended to the next. He admitted that a recent relapse may have led him to think a career in hockey might be impossible. Instead, it got to know him.

“I continued to skate for the first time since then and realized that it was something I like to do,” Francis said. “I knew I would do anything to do what I like to do.”

Francis paid off on Sunday night at Acrisure Arena. His father made his debut on the stage and made sure to give his extensive support network to his family, friends, girlfriend, her family, teammates, coaches and staff over the years.

“It’s incredible,” Francis said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx6gfymu8zo

During the fifty years in the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding league coverage in 2016.