Over two years ago, Craig Cunningham had to have the lower part of his left leg amputated, a byproduct of the heart attack he suffered a month earlier.
On Wednesday, the former Boston Bruins and Arizona Coyotes center posted a video of himself skating on his artificial leg, performing an array of crossovers. Cunningham attached a photo of the modified skate he used for his on-ice return.
"I still can't skate backwards," Cunningham quipped at the end of the video.
Cunningham, 28, collapsed on the ice ahead of an AHL matchup between his Tucson Roadrunners and the Manitoba Moose on Nov. 19, 2016. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors worked extensively to revive him. At one point, his heart "basically wasn't beating for a few days," NHL.com's Jon Lane reported.
Doctors performed a complicated procedure that required a ventricular assist device and an oxygenator to serve as an artificial lung, per Fox Sports. Cunningham made a full recovery but the procedure impacted circulation to his left leg, which required amputation a month later, effectively ending his hockey career.
Here's the most awesome thing I've seen in awhile. My buddy Craig Cunningham is making amazing progress in his rehab. This kid is a winner pic.twitter.com/Id0mErdN0y
— Ray Ferraro (@rayferrarotsn) March 9, 2017
In 63 career NHL games, Cunningham tallied three goals and five assists with Boston and Arizona. Since retirement, Cunningham has joined the Coyotes as a scout, signing a two-year pact in May 2017.
If his latest Instagram video is any indication, Cunningham pursuing an on-ice return in some capacity may not be out of the question — if he can relearn to skate backward.