Over 30 pro players are getting a head start on their upcoming training camps for a terrific cause this week at Planet Ice in Delta.
Professional coaches Newell Brown, Yogi Svejkovsky and Derek Popke have offered their services for the inaugural All Heart Pre-Season Pro Camp. Proceeds are going to the Craig Cunningham All Heart Foundation which is working with top doctors in the world to try and prevent sudden cardiac arrest.
Cunningham, the popular former captain of the Vancouver Giants, took his career to the NHL with the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes. It was while playing for the Coyotes’ American Hockey League affiliate in Tucson in November, 2016 when Cunningham suffered acute cardiac arrest. It was only the tremendous work of the on ice medical team, along with the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and Banner-University that saved his life. His remarkable story and courage has been featured by TSN and ESPN.
The 27-year-old Trail native now works as a pro scout for the Coyotes. He launched his foundation earlier this year along with Dr. Zain Khalpey.
NHL players participating in this week’s camp include: Alex Edler (Vancouver Canucks), Brandon Sutter (Vancouver Canucks), Troy Stecher (Vancouver Canucks), Martin Jones (San Jose Sharks), Brenden Dillon (San Jose Sharks), Morgan Rielly (Toronto Maple Leafs), Brendan Gallagher (Montreal Canadiens), Colton Sissons (Nashville Predators), Sam Reinhart (Buffalo Sabres) and Brad Hunt (Vegas Knights).
