IRVINE, Calif. — There were moments in the last five years when Ducks prospect Will Francis was unsure if he’d be able to live his dream of playing professional hockey. 

The Ducks 2019 sixth-round pick was dealt with news that no one could truly prepare for in the spring of 2020. Francis was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 

Francis was 19 years old when he was diagnosed and didn’t play in games until the 2021-2022 season with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, when he played only five games. After recovering and playing a full season in 2022-2023, his cancer relapsed late in 2023, causing him to miss the entire 2023-2024 season.

Francis recovered after receiving a bone marrow transplant, but he relapsed again a few months later.

“I’d be lying if I said this third time that I didn’t have any thoughts that this might be it,” Francis said. “But then I got back out skating again when I was in Philadelphia and just realized nothing was going to stop me from getting back out there.”

It’s been a long and grueling five years that have been full of uncertainty for Francis. But there’s one thing that’s kept him going. Hockey.

“It’s been a tough process,” Francis said. “I think what made it tougher was that I never really had a clear-cut timeline like you would if you had a broken bone or a torn ligament. It’s just keeping that light at the end of the tunnel for me. Keeping the faith and keeping the belief that I’m going to come out on the other side of it health-wise and then also getting back to doing the things I love.

“These setbacks, they’ve been tough, but they’ve only made the fire bigger for what I want to accomplish.”

As hard a fight as it is to go through cancer, Francis wasn’t alone. He credits the Bulldogs and Ducks organizations for being there for him every step of the way. 

“(Duluth) provided anything I needed,” Francis said. “The opportunity that Scott Sandelin gave me to be a part of the team there through all my struggles, it’s something that I’ll always be in debt for that and it’s just an unbelievable place to play hockey.”

Francis also said that from the Ducks, director of player development Jim Johnson, head athletic trainer Chad Walker, former head coach Greg Cronin and assistant coach Tim Army all reached out to him throughout his treatments. He said that they checked in on his health primarily and then talked about the hockey side of things after.

After being limited to just four games in his final season at Duluth this past season, Francis signed an AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls. He only appeared in three games with the Gulls, but just inking the deal was a huge milestone for him.

“It’s just super special,” Francis said. “It’s something that I’ve worked towards ever since I was drafted into the organization. They’ve been first class to me, and it’s just a great feeling, and I got to celebrate it at home with my family.”

While at Ducks Development Camp, Francis signed a one-year standard player contract with the San Diego Gulls for the upcoming season.

Another Ducks prospect at development camp is Tim Washe, who’s played at Western Michigan and faced Francis’ Bulldogs in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Washe and Francis were in the same grade, and both finished their collegiate careers this year. 

Washe is well aware of Francis’ story and is now getting a closer look at Francis as a player and person at the development camp.

“That’s the definition of strength right there,” Washe said. “Just a great competitor and I’m just so proud of him and it’s inspiring what he’s doing.”

From the hockey perspective, Francis is a 6’5 and 216-pound defenseman who uses his size and strength to be a sturdy defenseman that’s hard to play against. 

With all of the time that he’s missed in the last five years, Francis admits he needs to work on his skating this summer. But besides sharpening up his skating, Francis feels confident in the rest of his skillset and is eager to start in San Diego this year. 

After three bouts with cancer in the last five years, Francis is healthy and ready to take on the challenges that professional hockey presents. Part of the reason why he’s ready is the life lessons that he’s learned throughout his battle.

“The biggest thing is just never stop believing in yourself,” Francis said. “To accomplish anything you want to accomplish in life, you’ve just got to start with that belief. I’d say that’s something that’s going to stick with me the rest of my life.”