Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers announced Saturday he has been diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma of the lymph node, an advanced form of skin cancer.
The Ducks say Stothers is under care at UCI Health and will begin treatment and surgical intervention in the coming weeks.
As part of the announcement, Stothers took the opportunity to share a message as he continues his fight the disease:
“Listen to your body. If you notice something unusual, or don’t feel like yourself, consult a doctor immediately. Please do not wait. It could be the best decision you ever make.”
“Mike is one of the toughest and finest people in hockey,” Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said in a statement. "The Ducks organization and entire NHL community are firmly behind him. We also support and appreciate Mike’s message. For him to take the time to try and help others while dealing with his own battle says a lot about who he is."
Stothers, 61, played in 30 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs before beginning his coaching career with the AHL's Hershey Bears in 1992.
Since then, Stothers has served as a head coach in the AHL, OHL and WHL. The Toronto native has been an assistant in the NHL for the Flyers (2000-02), Atlanta Thrashers (2010-11) and the Ducks (hired 2021).
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