Dostal Unveils Cancer-Tribute Mask for Ducks
Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal will wear the purple mask during Hockey Fights Cancer Month, with proceeds going to Children's Hospitals of Orange County.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Hockey
Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal revealed a purple mask honoring cancer fighters and family members before the team's game against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Dostal will wear the mask in games throughout November as part of the league's Hockey Fights Cancer Month.
Why it matters
The mask puts personal stories of cancer loss and survival at the center of the Ducks' November schedule in Anaheim. Dostal said the fight against cancer is very important to him and sometimes means more than hockey.
The Ducks finished October 2026 with a 5-7-1 record and 11 points. The mask auction proceeds for Children's Hospitals of Orange County have not yet been quantified.
The players
Lukas Dostal
Lukas Dostal is the Anaheim Ducks goaltender from the Czech Republic who designed the mask around his personal connections to cancer.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a National Hockey League franchise based in Anaheim, California, playing in the Pacific Division.
Children's Hospitals of Orange County
Children's Hospitals of Orange County is a pediatric health system serving children and families across Orange County, California.
The details
The helmet features a photo of Dostal's grandmother, who died of pancreatic cancer when he was a teenager, along with a pink ribbon listing Ducks organization members who have battled cancer. The left side shows Dostal with director of goaltending Sudarshan Maharaj, a pancreatic cancer survivor, and the right side honors former collegiate goalie Paddy O'Donnell, who died at age 23 of brain cancer.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Dostal met Veronika, who was battling cervical cancer while making a movie for the Czech women's national team.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: The Ducks revealed the mask before facing the Ottawa Senators.
November 2026: Dostal wears the mask during games for Hockey Fights Cancer Month.
After November: The mask will be auctioned, with proceeds going to Children's Hospitals of Orange County.
Season Trajectory
Within the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer Month, Dostal's mask is a player-driven extension of the league's annual awareness campaign. The Ducks enter November looking to improve on a 5-7-1 October that left them searching for consistency.
Fans attending Ducks games in November will see Dostal in the mask during Hockey Fights Cancer Month. The later auction gives supporters a chance to bid on the piece with proceeds directed to pediatric care in Orange County.
The takeaway
Dostal's mask shows how a player's personal experience with cancer can turn a team's awareness campaign into a visible, lasting tribute. Readers can watch for the November auction to see how the tribute translates into funds for local children's care.
What happens next
Dostal will wear the mask throughout November, and the mask will be auctioned after the month ends with proceeds going to Children's Hospitals of Orange County.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Hockey coverage across the NHL.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
