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Kevin Dineen, a former NHL player who transitioned into coaching, has announced that he has received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Dineen, who is 62 years old, shared a message on various social media platforms over the course of the preceding weekend, during which he communicated the details of his diagnosis.
“This occasion of Thanksgiving carries a somewhat altered significance,” the Quebec City-born individual stated in a post on social media. “It has served to offer a revised understanding, particularly regarding the extent of my fortune in being encompassed by such an abundance of encouraging family members and acquaintances.”
Dineen, renowned as an energetic winger throughout his tenure as a player, participated in excess of 1,200 regular-season and playoff contests with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets, spanning an extended career from 1984 to 2002.
Following a brief period dedicated to scouting and managerial responsibilities, he committed approximately two decades to roles behind hockey benches, which included serving as the head coach of the Florida Panthers for more than two seasons, commencing in 2011 and concluding in 2013. He led Canada’s women’s national team to an Olympic gold medal in Sochi in 2014 after he was chosen to fill the position on short notice.
Dineen’s name is etched on the Stanley Cup in recognition of his contributions as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. His most recent coaching engagements involved the San Diego Gulls and the Utica Comets within the American Hockey League.
“I felt compelled to share this update because my involvement in hockey has instilled in me the knowledge that no battle is encountered in solitude,” Dineen expressed. “To anyone currently engaged in a significant struggle, be it cancer or any other form of adversity, I wish to convey the message that you are not isolated in your experience.”
