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Ducks goalie coach Sudarshan Maharaj diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

June 26, 2023

Sudarshan “Sudsie” Maharaj, the Ducks’ long-time and well-respected goaltending coach, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the team announced on Monday

Maharaj, 59, received the diagnosis after the conclusion of the Ducks’ regular season and has been receiving treatment and is scheduled eventually to have surgery. Following surgery, the team said that Maharaj “anticipates returning to his role with the Ducks.”

The Ducks will be bringing on an assistant goaltending coach while Maharaj continues his treatment and recovery, a hire to be made by general manager Pat Verbeek and Maharaj.

“While this has been a very difficult time, I have had amazing support from my family and the Ducks organization, especially owners Henry and Susan Samueli,” Maharaj said in a statement released by the team. “A special thanks also to Jillian Samueli for her amazing support and friendship.

“I plan on fighting this disease vigorously with the help of my tremendous doctors both in Toronto and with the Ducks. The hockey community is an amazingly supportive place, and I look forward to seeing you all soon.”

The Ducks also released a statement from owners Henry and Susan Samueli:

“We love Sudsie (Maharaj) so much! An amazing person and friend to so many in hockey. Our organization sends heartfelt support to his wife Yvonne, and daughters Alexandra and Katherine. Sudsie is bound and determined to beat this terrible disease, and we can’t wait until he does.”

Maharaj had first thought he was dealing with an ulcer.

“Basically, be aware … when we’re young we (think) we are invincible and we’re not always in tune with our own health,” he said in an interview with the Orange County Register. “It’s so important to listen to your body and make it a priority of getting yourself checked out and making sure you’re listening to your body.”

He has been with the organization since the 2013-14 season – serving as goaltending consultant with the Norfolk Admirals, which was then the Ducks’ AHL affiliate. Maharaj was named the Ducks goaltending coach, starting in the 2016-17 season. Previously, he spent eight seasons in the New York Islanders organization, starting in 2003-04.

When Maharaj joined the Islanders, he became the first goaltending coach of Indian descent to work in the NHL on a full-time basis. He was born in Trinidad and moved to Toronto at 6.

“More and more people of different cultures are getting involved in hockey in general,” he told NHL.com in 2018. “I think that’s having more of an impact rather than, say myself, being a role model.”

In March, the Ducks announced that assistant coach Mike Stothers had been diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. Stothers underwent surgery in addition to immunotherapy and follow-up appointments have been encouraging.

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Orange County Register

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Ducks goalie coach Sudarshan Maharaj diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

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