Cunningham’s recovery a ‘miracle’: Bouma

Lance Bouma was out for dinner when he heard the devastating news.

Craig Cunningham, his longtime friend from his days playing for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, had suffered a heart attack before an American Hockey League game on Nov. 19.

The captain of the Arizona Coyotes’ AHL affiliate collapsed on the ice and was given a grim prognosis.

At the time, Bouma had been nursing a shoulder injury and had been in Calgary while the Flames were on a road trip.

“It was a huge shock,” said Bouma, shaking his head. “I was obviously injured, so I was back here (in Calgary). I got the call from my agent — we have the same agent — and he called me and said he had the heart attack on the ice. I was in complete shock. I left right away and went home.

“I didn’t know what to think. You never expect it to happen to your friend and especially being that young and that healthy. It was tough. Really scary.”

Cunningham, a native of Trail, B.C., had been drafted by the Boston Bruins 97th overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft and played five seasons from 2006 to 2011 with the Giants. He was traded halfway through his 20-year-old season to the Portland Winterhawks.

Bouma, meanwhile, had played for the Giants from 2005 to 2010. They won a Memorial Cup together in 2007.

Since then, the two have gone on trips together and stay connected throughout the year.

So it was a no-brainer when the Flames were in Arizona on Dec. 7 and 8 that Bouma would take the two hour-ish drive to Tucson, Ariz., to see his buddy.

“I asked him to make sure it was all right and his mom, girlfriend and brother were there, too,” Bouma said. “It was just good to see them and give support to all of them. We’re obviously really close, me and Craig. It was tough for me to see him like that, but I was glad I went. It was good to see him.” But it was also difficult. “He was still hooked up to everything ... he couldn’t really move a whole bunch, but he was still able to talk to me and have a conversation,” Bouma said. “It was tough to see him in that situation and in that state.

“But it was good to see him and good to see he was still positive and kind of trying to be himself and joke around a bit.”

Earlier this week, Cunningham spoke to the media for the first time since the incident. He thanked the doctors at Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital and Banner-University Medical Center, who gave him life-saving therapy and surgically repaired his heart.

“It’s a miracle he’s still here,” Bouma said. “It’s incredible. I think the doctors did a great job and he’s got a bunch of support from everyone. It’s great to see and he’s such a great guy.

“He’s got the right attitude throughout the entire thing. No matter what, he’ll be just fine.”