University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey senior defenseman Will Francis signed a contract with San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League Wednesday night. The Gulls are the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, which drafted Francis in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft (163 overall).

Francis, is a three-time cancer survivor who was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March of 2020. He played 37 games over four seasons from 2021-2025, and underwent cancer treatment for the entire 2022-23 season and most of the 2024-25 season. Francis underwent a bone marrow transplant in April 2024.

A two-time NCHC Academic All-Conference Team member, Francis was selected for the Maroon and Gold Award in spring of 2023 by UMD Athletics, an award that honors perseverance.

Francis  was signed by the Gull to an amateur tryout (ATO).