Craig Cunningham

Craig Alvin Cunningham (born September 13, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played parts of 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Boston Bruins and Arizona Coyotes. He had his career ended short when he had to have his left leg amputated after entering cardiac arrest during a pre-game skate for the Tucson Roadrunners.

Before playing in the NHL, Cunningham played five seasons with the Vancouver Giants and one season with the Portland Winterhawks of Western Hockey League (WHL). He had a successful time with the Giants. He helped the team during the playoffs, helping the Giants defeat the Chilliwack Bruins, Seattle Thunderbirds and Prince George Cougars. The team was eventually defeated by the Medicine Hat Tigers four games to three in the President's Cup finals. The team did however defeat the Tigers in the Finals to win the Memorial Cup.^[1] The team was later insucted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025.^[2]

He was drafted 97th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL entry draft. On July 14, 2011, Cunningham signed an entry-level contract to join the Bruins.^[3] He was immediately sent down to the Bruins AHL-affiliate Providence Bruins. He instead decided to return playing in the WHL and the Giants named him as their new captain.^[4] The Giants traded Cunningham along with a 2012 sixth-round draft pick to the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for Spencer Bennett, Teal Burns, a 2011 first-round draft pick and a 2012 second-round pick.^[5]

On December 16, 2013 the Bruins called Cunningham up to the team.^[6] The next day, he made his NHL debut in a 2–0 win against the Calgary Flames.^[7] On December 5, Cunningham scored his first NHL career goal against Robin Lehner in a 3–2 shootout loss against the Ottawa Senators.^[8]

On March 2, 2015, the Bruins placed Cunningham on waivers and he was claimed by the Arizona Coyotes.^[9] After 19 games, he was sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Springfield Falcons. On June 16, 2016, Cunningham signed a one-year, two-way contract to stay with the Coyotes.^[10] Arizona then assigned Cunningham to play for their new AHL-affiliate Tucson Roadrunners and he became the team's first captain on November 2, 2016.^[11]

On November 19, 2016, Cunningham collapsed during a pre-game skate before the Roadrunners–Manitoba Moose game. It was revealed that he was suffering from acute cardiac arrest and doctors performed CPR on-ice and at the hospital. His heart had stopped beating for 83 minutes before finally restarting again.^[12][13] On December 24, 2016, Cunningham had to have his lower left leg amputated after it got infected from problems with circulation which caused him to retire from playing professional ice hockey.^[14] On May 24, 2017, Cunningham signed a two-year contract with the Coyotes to become a pro scout and part of player development for the team.^[15]

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database