 Defenseman Wes Cunningham is this week's player in “Breaking the Ice with…” The feature will be a season long series on plymouthwhalers.com and showcase a different Whaler each week so we can get to know them better.
Acquired in November with Evan Brophey and a draft pick from Belleville for Cory Tanaka and 2 draft picks, Cunningham was originally selected by Owen Sound in the 2nd round (23rd overall) in the 2003 OHL Draft. This summer, Cunningham will represent Team Canada in Italy for the World Junior Cup of Ball Hockey. The Dresden, Ontario, native took a few minutes before practice to help us break the ice. » On the best advice he has been given… “Once I was told you shouldn't give people a reason to see you fail. If you work as hard as you can, then you are going to go far in life pretty much.” » On how he started playing hockey… “When I was 2-and-a-half, my grandfather and my dad made an ice rink in my grandfather’s backyard. That’s when I started skating. I still have the hockey stick to this day that I used when I was 2-and-a-half and I started playing in an actual league when I was about 3-and-a-half.” » On his youth hockey highlight… “When I was younger when I played novice, I had 100 points in a season. I had like 71 goals and 29 assists and I was a defenseman, so that was my highlight.”  » On his most memorable goal…
“My most memorable goal was my first OHL goal (1/31/04). It was in Saginaw. It was just a slap shot from the point and it went top shelf. I was pretty proud of it I guess.” » On what championships he has won… “In minor hockey I have won a couple Silver Sticks. A lot of championships in tournaments and stuff like that. We won our league a lot and that’s about it. Nothing in junior hockey yet except for the Team Ontario.” » On his best moment in a Whalers uniform… “Right now just playing. I was hurt in the beginning, so I didn't enjoy watching from the stands. Now I just like being out there playing hockey with the boys.” » On who has influenced him in hockey… “I’d probably say my grandfather or my parents. My grandfather because he always told me never to give up and to have fun playing hockey. Even though he’s dead now, I still always think of him. When I’m playing hockey, I try to do my best and have fun with it.” » On representing his country… “Playing for Team Ontario at the Under-17s and winning the gold medal was great. It was great that I even got chosen. We had a good team and it was fun and I met some great guys from it. I haven't represented my country any other time, but this year in June I get to go to Italy for Team Canada Ball Hockey.” » On the differences between ice hockey and ball hockey… “Well, obviously you don’t have skates on. All you wear is your helmet and gloves and have your stick. You have got to be in good shape for it because you are running all the time. It’s the same strategies though.”  » On how he is raising money for the trip…
“We are having an auction on a game-worn jersey and getting donations from different companies around the area.” » On his most embarrassing hockey moment… “One time, I just fell on the ice right in warm-ups. I fell across the red line. You’re not supposed to go across, but everyone just looked at me and laughed. It was pretty embarrassing because it was my rookie year.” » On the trade process… “Well, I didn’t expect it at all. It has been a good trade. Belleville was an all right team, but I think here we have a better chance of going farther in the playoffs. Maybe it will even help my career better, so I think the move here from Belleville to here was a good move for me and hopefully will make me better.” » On the benefits of being traded with someone… “Yeah, I mean, the first time I got traded it was just by myself and it was kind of different trying to get to know all the guys when you don’t any of them. This time I came with Brophey and I knew a couple other guys, so that helped a lot too. So I think having another guy to come with just helps make you feel a little more comfortable in the arena and outside hanging out with the guys.” » On adjusting to billets… “Here it has been easy. I mean, it is my second time that I have been traded and like I said, being with another teammate and knowing some of the guys made it easier. The billets are really nice so it has been pretty easy adjusting.” » On if he has ever played with any of the guys on the team before… “I played with (Evan) Brophey in Belleville. I played against (Justin) Peters in a 3-on-3 tournament. Who else? (Joe) McCann, I played with him for prospects and (Ryan) McGinnis for prospects too in spring hockey.” » On the player he tries to model his game after… “It has changed from year to year, but Nicklas Lidstrom is a good defensive player and he gets the puck out, so I’d probably say him. He’s a good leader and a great hockey player.” » On his pre-game routine… “My pre-game routine would be: I eat my pre-game meal at like 3 o’clock, but I’ll usually just go watch TV and relax, have a shower at 4 or 4:30 and Evan picks me up and I’ll go to the arena with him. We usually try to listen to the same songs each home game. There are a lot of little things that people do; there are some things that I think I’m superstitious about. I think everyone has their own superstitions, but they might not realize it because it just becomes part of their every day routine.”  » On his nicknames…
“They call me Cunny-Cheese and I guess one of the guys made up some big story with all the guys’ last names. It was kind of a joke that one of the guys that played here made up, so they call me Cunny-Cheese or Hunting-Cheese.” » On if there is anything behind his jersey number… “To tell you the truth, I was #4 in Owen Sound and then I went out to Belleville and they didn’t have a 4, well, someone was using it, so I said alright I’d take 3, it’s just a number, so there’s nothing really behind it. It’s just what they gave me and I stuck with it.” » On what he'd do if he didn't play hockey… “I don’t know. That’s a tough question because right now all I think about is hockey and I don’t think about much else. Right now, I’m finishing up a class in Belleville because I couldn’t switch my classes over from Belleville to here.” » On his funniest teammate… “Funniest teammate, we have a lot of them, but I think (Ryan) Stephenson is a pretty big joker.” » On what type of player he should be for the team… “It depends on what they want me to be. If they want me to be defensive and just get the puck out off the glass like we have been doing the last couple games, then I’m going to do that. If they want me to rush the puck and get into the play, then I’m going to do that too. Normally I’m an offensive player, but they have been wanting me to play defensive so I’m just trying to do that.” » On the craziest thing that has happened on the road… “We just play pranks on each other. The one time Zack Shepley left his room so I decided I was going to go in his room and put some toothpaste on the end of the phone. Then I watched him go back into his room, so I called him and he picked up and he wasn’t real happy because it was all over his ear.”  » On the person he would most like to meet…
“I’m not even sure; maybe Wayne Gretzky would have some words of advice for me.” » On his dream goal… “Well, this weekend we’re going to Belleville and I think my dream situation would be just getting a goal, the game-winner against Belleville.” » On his dream vacation… ”Probably like California or Florida, somewhere warm.” » On what one thing he could not live without… “Food.” » On one rule he'd change in hockey… “I’d probably change the rule that if you flip the puck out in your own end you get a penalty. I think it’s kind of stupid because most guys don’t mean to do it and it just puts your team down in crucial situations.” » On what TV show he would be on… “A reality TV Show probably like the Gauntlet, some kind of competition since that’s what I like.” » On what other five players he would want on the ice with him… “It would be Wayne Gretzky, probably Jarome Iginla because he’s a good leader like Gretzky, and (Steve) Yzerman. Lidstrom as my partner because he’s a good player and I could get some tips and for goalie (Martin) Brodeur.” -Natalie Shaver, February 1, 2006- -- Other Players' "Breaking the Ice" Features -- | 
