Craig Cunningham’s playing days may be over, but his second career in the NHL is just getting started.
The Arizona Coyotes announced on Wednesday that they’ve hired Cunningham as a pro scout. As a part of his two-year deal, Cunningham will also assist in player development.
The 26-year-old Cunningham spent parts of two seasons as a player in the Coyotes organization. He was serving as captain of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Tuscon Roadrunners, when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the ice prior to a game on Nov. 19.
Cunningham was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and doctors performed emergency surgery and were able to save Cunningham’s life and repair his heart, despite it not being able to beat on its own for two days.