UMD Men’s Hockey Player Shares Sad Medical News, Optimistic About Return To Team

Will Francis, a senior defenseman for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, announced he has temporarily stepped away from the team as he seeks medical treatment following what he called "shocking" news.

Francis shared a statement (via the team's social media) in which he revealed that during a routine checkup last fall, doctors found that his leukemia had relapsed.

The senior in management & communications at UMD had first been diagnosed with leukemia in 2020.

As our news partners at WDIO explain, Francis battled and beat the disease twice after his initial diagnosis. He shared via social media in August of 2023 that a checkup revealed his leukemia had relapsed, leading to him being medically redshirted for the 2023-2024 season while receiving treatment.

The UMD senior announced in June of 2024 that his medical team had declared him cancer-free. After being given a clean bill of health, he prepared to rejoin the Bulldogs for the 2024-2025 season.

Francis took to the ice for UMD in two games early in the season including on November 8 against North Dakota where he notched a pair of shots on the stat sheet.

As was revealed on January 2 by the team via social media, it was discovered his leukemia had relapsed once again during a checkup and some subsequent testing in late October of 2024.

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Francis called the news "shocking", considering how he said he had been progressing through last fall and saying he had no symptoms.

The St. Paul native is now once again receiving treatment out of state, but is optimistic about getting back with the team yet this season. He says he hopes to return to campus and the team in February.