Vancouver Canucks player Dakota Joshua revealed on Tuesday that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer over the summer and had surgery to take out a tumor.

At 28 years old, Joshua stated that he is in the process of recovering from his surgery, but he is aiming to play in the upcoming 2024-25 season.

“This summer, I discovered a lump in one of my testicles that was later confirmed as testicular cancer by doctors,” Joshua shared in a statement from the Canucks. “Hearing this news was understandably frightening, but fortunately, the doctors were able to remove the tumor successfully. The last few weeks have been quite tough, but I’ve been lucky to have the backing of my family, friends, teammates, and medical staff.”

“Sadly, I won’t be fully ready for the start of training camp as I continue to recover from the surgery. I am determined to return to the ice as soon as I can and I am putting in the effort each day (to) get back with my teammates.”

From Michigan, Joshua made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season with the St. Louis Blues. He played for two partial seasons with the Blues before joining the Vancouver team as a free agent, where he earned a more significant role.

In the previous season, Joshua played 63 games, achieving personal bests with 18 goals and 14 assists, totaling 32 points. In his 184 career games with both the Blues and the Canucks, he has accumulated 64 points (33 goals, 31 assists), alongside 567 hits and 143 penalty minutes.

“Confronting the truth about this type of cancer was incredibly tough, but swiftly getting a checkup from a doctor was the best choice I could make, and I urge men to have regular check-ups for testicular cancer,” Joshua emphasized. “As I focus on my recovery, I appreciate everyone’s respect for my privacy regarding this matter. The team will share updates when necessary. I am grateful for all the support and understanding during this time.”