Canucks winger DakotaJoshua to miss camp after cancer surgery
28-year-old says lump has been removed and he will join team 'as soon as possible'
Vancouver Canucks wingerDakotaJoshuahas announced he'll miss the start of training camp following surgery for testicular cancer.
Joshuasaid in a statement posted to social media by the team Tuesday that he felt a lump on one of his testicles this summer and later had surgery to successfully remove the tumour.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., said he plans on returning to play "as soon as possible" and is "working hard every day" to rejoin his teammates.
Joshuasaid the last several weeks have been "extremely challenging" and encouraged men to get checked regularly for testicular cancer.
The six-foot-three, 206-pound forward had a career-high 18 goals and 14 assists in 63 games for the Canucks last season and signed a new four-year, $13-million US deal with Vancouver at the end of June.
The Canucks are set to open their training camp in Penticton,B.C., on Thursday.