A month ago, we told you about the Coyotes organization's plans to honour Craig Cunningham. The club made it official, as the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners announced that they will commemorate the franchise’s first ever captain on “Craig Cunningham Night” on October 27.
Cunningham’s No. 14 jersey will be lifted to the rafters with a pre-game banner ceremony, and fans will be receiving a special bobblehead of the player.
During a game last season with the Roadrunners, Cunningham collapsed to the ice and suffered cardiac arrest and needed CPR from paramedics on the ice to avoid a fatal life-taking incident. Almost a full year later, the team will honour the courageous player.
Cunningham’s hockey career came to a premature end as his left leg had to be amputated because of circulation problems.
The 26-year-old is now a professional scout with the Coyotes. His dedication and work ethic to the game is an inspiration to the Coyotes organization and around hockey. His never saw die attitude will forever be engrained in the Arizona community with his banner looking down on a team that he had such an impact on.
Cunningham was a fourth round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Coyotes and eventually ended up in Tucson, scoring the team’s first goal in franchise history.
