Tucson Roadrunners captain Craig Cunningham remains hospitalized after suffering what the parent club called a βmedical emergencyβ minutes before Saturdayβs scheduled game against the Manitoba Moose at Tucson Arena.
The 7:05 p.m. game was postponed. No make-up date has been announced.
Cunningham collapsed following the singing of the national anthems and moments before the puck was scheduled to drop.
He appeared to convulse after hitting the ice. Medical staffs from both teams rushed to aid him, as did local firefighters who were on the ice as part of a bagpipe and drum corps.
A stretcher was summoned. Medics performed chest compressions before moving Cunningham off the ice and into an ambulance.
Both teams then returned to their locker rooms. Officials from the American Hockey League called the game 30 minutes later.
The NHLβs Arizona Coyotes, the Roadrunnersβ parent club and owner, said late Saturday that Cunningham is βreceiving medical treatmentβ at a local hospital but offered few details.
βOur thoughts and prayers are with Craig and his family,β the Coyotesβ statement read. βWe will provide a medical update once we receive more information.β
The 26-year-old Cunningham, a center, is arguably one of the Roadrunnersβ best players. He scored the first two goals in franchise history last month, and had a goal in Friday nightβs win over the Moose. His 13 points are tied for most on the team.
Cunningham was named captain this month. The Trail, British Columbia, native earned that distinction last year, too, as a member of the Springfield (Massachusetts) Falcons. The Falcons were sold and moved to Tucson last spring.
The Boston Bruins selected Cunningham with their fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. Cunningham made his NHL debut for the Bruins in December 2013. He scored his first NHL goal a year later in a Bruins loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Boston placed Cunningham on waivers in March 2015, and the Coyotes claimed him. He spent the rest of the season shuttling between Arizona (19 games) and Springfield (61 games).
Cunningham has appeared in 11 games this season with the Roadrunners.
