The New Jersey Devils celebrated Hockey Fights Cancer night on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. While it was a losing effort, these nights are always special around the league.
These nights took a different turn for the New Jersey Devils when they had Brian Boyle on the roster. In his first season wearing red and black, Boyle was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. This cancer can be aggressive, but because the Devils doctors helped find it very early, Boyle was able to recover without chemotherapy and returned later in the 2017-18 season.
So much went right in that season, but we believe Boyle’s fight was extra motivation. He had so much support despite joining a brand new team, and eventually, his cancer went into remission.
Now, one day after the Devils had their special night, there’s a new fight that needs support. Former Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen announced he is battling pancreatic cancer on Sunday.
This Thanksgiving feels a bit different. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It has put a lot into perspective, most of all how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many supportive family and friends. #HockeyFightsCancer pic.twitter.com/IDnrUjl74T
— Kevin Dineen (@kdino9) November 30, 2025
This is obviously a sad and scary update on Dineen’s health. The talented coach was let go by the New Jersey Devils/Utica Comets last season after an unsuccessful start to the season. However, most thought he would get a new job pretty quickly. He brought some great things out of Utica, but they had serious holes last season.
This update might show why Dineen is taking a break from hockey.
Dineen has been involved in hockey for his entire life. Dineen played for the University of Denver in the early 1980s before joining the Hartford Whalers in 1984. He played more than 1,100 NHL games, spending time with the Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, before retiring as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2002.
He jumped right into coaching, taking on the head coaching position with the Portland Pirates, then AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. There, he would coach future Devils like Ryan Carter, P.A. Parenteau, and a few others.
We send our thoughts out to Dineen, his family, former teammates, and those who shared the bench with him here at Pucks and Pitchforks as he takes on this fight.