Four months after the collapse that ended his hockey career, nearly took his life and made him a walking testament to medical science, Tucson Roadrunners captain Craig Cunningham made his way back to the ice.
Cunningham delivered the ceremonial opening puck drop before the Roadrunners鈥 5-2 loss to the San Jose Barracuda at Tucson Arena.
It was Craig Cunningham Night, a celebration of how far he鈥檚 come and an appreciation for the doctors and family members that are still helping him.
Cunningham suffered a major cardiac event in the minutes before the Roadrunners鈥 Nov. 19 home game against the Manitoba Moose. The 26-year-old battled for his life for nine hours as doctors worked to decompress his heart and maintain steady blood flow.
鈥淚 feel good,鈥 Cunningham said, cracking a smile at a pregame press conference. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice night, not only for me but for everyone that was involved in my case.鈥
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George Haloftis, one of the doctors who helped save Cunningham鈥檚 life, said he鈥檚 never seen a patient show as much fight in the face of insurmountable odds.
鈥淥ther patients that go through this as long as he was in cardiac arrest, and reoccurring cardiac arrest, they don鈥檛 survive,鈥 he said.
Cunningham鈥檚 road to recovery is ongoing.
On Christmas Eve, doctors amputated part of Cunningham鈥檚 left leg for fear that infection would interfere with his healing. Cunningham has spent the past few months learning to complete everyday tasks again. By all accounts, he鈥檚 well ahead of schedule.
That was yet another a reason to celebrate.
鈥淧hysicians, paramedics, emergency medical services, we do these things every day, but we don鈥檛 have these outcomes every day,鈥 Haloftis said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the real story: I saw him fighting for his life in that hospital for nine hours, and I couldn鈥檛 be happier for him and his family.鈥
The doctor even hinted at the possibility that Cunningham could one day skate using a prosthesis.
For now, Cunningham is working out in an attempt to regain some of the muscle mass he lost while in the hospital. Hockey, not surprisingly, has been Cunningham鈥檚 greatest comfort during his rehabilitation.
鈥淥bviously I miss playing every single day, and I miss the atmosphere around the locker room,鈥 Cunningham said. 鈥淭he guys have been great. From Day 1, they鈥檝e been to see me every day. It鈥檚 been pretty incredible.鈥
Cunningham likely won鈥檛 go far. The NHL鈥檚 Arizona Coyotes have already offered him a job within the organization. Cunningham has said he wants to stay as involved with hockey as possible.
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to go on and do great things that transcend the sport of hockey,鈥 Haloftis said. 鈥淚 can guarantee you that.鈥
