Kevin Dineen, former NHL star, reveals cancer diagnosis

Kevin Dineen, NHL Legend, Reveals Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Former NHL player and coach Kevin Dineen has announced that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Dineen, 62 years old, shared the news through his social media this weekend.

This Thanksgiving feels a little different. It has made me see things in perspective, especially how fortunate I am to be surrounded by so many supportive family and friends.

Kevin Dineen

During his playing career, Dineen was a combative winger who participated in more than 1200 regular season and playoff games with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets, in a career that spanned from 1984 to 2002.

After a brief period as a scout and working in management, he spent the next two decades in hockey coaching, including more than two seasons as head coach of the Florida Panthers from 2011 to 2013. He led the Canadian women’s team to the Olympic gold medal in Sochi in 2014, after being chosen at the last minute for the position. Dineen had his name on the Stanley Cup as an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. He recently coached the San Diego Gulls and the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.

I wanted to share my news because hockey has taught me that no fight is faced alone. For anyone who is struggling with something difficult, whether it’s cancer or another struggle, I want you to know that you are not alone.

Kevin Dineen