Craig Cunningham is a legitimate contender for a roster spot as the Boston Bruins opened training camp on Wednesday.
The Trail native and Rossland-Trail minor hockey product is among a strong corps of players that will be battling it out for one of few openings on the forward lines.
Cunningham had 25 goals and 46 points in 75 games with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins last season.
SI.com, the online version of Sports Illustrated magazine, said Cunningham might be one of the players to watch as the Bruins seek an offensive threat for its third line.
The magazine stated that skilled Swedish forward Carl Soderberg is earmarked for that spot but should he falter, “Craig Cunningham and Jared Knight are both undersized options, but the B’s like their grit and scoring upside.”
The team will play its first exhibition game on Monday in Montreal.
The Bruins drafted Cunningham in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
He has spent the last two seasons in Providence.