Wes Cunningham Closing in on Professional Hockey Goals

Wes Cunningham - Photo by Richard Shiro - http://www.shotsbyshiro.com

 As a young hockey player, Dresden’s Wes Cunningham has accomplished a lot. After graduating from a successful career in the OHL, Cunningham recently completed his third professional hockey season in the ECHL. This year, Cunningham was named an ECHL first team all-star, and was the runner up for the ECHL’s top defenseman award.

This season, Cunningham scored 43 points in 69 game’s for the Greenville Road Warriors.

When asked what it was like to be considered for the ECHL’s top defenseman honours, Cunningham didn’t speak of personal glory or his successes, rather, he focused on the hard work that led to this nomination,

“Just knowing the hours in the gym, time on the ice and all the sacrifices are starting to pay off is the best feeling in the world,'” said Cunningham, “It’s also exciting knowing your goals are right around the corner and things are starting to come together.”

Those goals are something Cunningham is living, as his Greenville Road Warriors are currently playing toward an ECHL championship after beating Elmira in round one, and currently battling the Wheeling Nailers in round two. Cunningham firmly believes his team has what it takes to succeed this postseason, “Our success has a lot to do with the character we have in our dressing room. We have a number of great players in our room that not only are very talented but also hate to lose. When things are getting tough there is a new hero each game and a new guy steps up. It’s really a team effort and that is a the recipe for success.”

Although Cunningham is focusing on winning an ECHL championship, he also plans on bigger things next year aiming to step up to the AHL, and eventually finding his way to the National Hockey League.

With big dreams and professional hockey goals that are finally becoming a reality, Cunningham has a bright future ahead, but he says his current professional successes wouldn’t be possible without the guidance and coaching he received in Chatham-Kent,

“Growing up in Chatham-Kent I was fortunate enough to have some great coaches from Rick Paxton in Dresden, to Don Johnson in Chatham-Kent Cyclones hockey and Dave Torrie with the Chatham Maroons. I learned a lot from all of them and that gave me the stepping stone to get to where I am now. I can’t thank them, my family and my friends enough for everything they have done to help me become a better hockey player and a better person.”

Continue to follow the Chatham-Kent Sports Network for more information regarding Wes Cunningham as his playoff season progresses and throughout the offseason.

Photo credit Richard Shiro. See more great photographs by Richard Shiro at http://www.shotsbyshiro.com