John Walton, the longtime radio voice of the Washington Capitals and former Hershey Bears announcer, has disclosed that he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Walton made the announcement on social media, detailing the journey ahead. He is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday to remove the cancerous mass in his colon, and his doctors have given him a positive prognosis. Walton remains optimistic, expressing his intention to be present at Capitals Training Camp in September and to call the team’s first preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers on September 22. “I will be in a fight for a bit, but it’s a fight I’m going to win,” Walton wrote. He also expressed deep gratitude for the support from his hockey and Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) families, assuring everyone that he won’t be down for long.
Walton has been the primary radio play-by-play voice for the Capitals since 2011, following a nine-year stint with the Hershey Bears in the AHL. He has also provided national television commentary for NBC Sports, covering select Stanley Cup playoff games and women’s hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
After Walton shared his diagnosis, both the Capitals’ PR and the team’s main X account offered their support. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis also sent his best wishes.
John Walton
“Wishing you strength and healing – know that you’re surrounded by love and positive thoughts,” the Capitals PR account tweeted. “We are here to support you every step of the way.” The @Capitals account added, “We are all with you, John! ❤️”
Leonsis also expressed his solidarity: “John – your #ALLCAPS family is standing with you in this fight,” he wrote. “We @MSE and the @Capitals will be with you every step of the way. Wishing you a swift recovery and can’t wait to see you back in the booth soon.”
Walton concluded his statement by encouraging everyone over the age of 45 to undergo colon cancer screening. According to the American Cancer Society, regular screenings should start at age 45 for those at average risk and continue until age 75.
All of us at RMNB extend our best wishes to John and look forward to hearing his voice behind Capitals hockey for many seasons to come.
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