Logan Cunningham is a member of the Spokane Chiefs no longer.

The 18-year-old defenceman was dealt by the Chiefs to the Red Deer Rebels on Sept. 29. Going the other way is a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2023 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 always tough to have a veteran player move on, but we feel this will be a good opportunity for Logan in Red Deer,SA国际影视传媒� said Matt Bardsley, SpokaneSA国际影视传媒檚 general manager. SA国际影视传媒淲e appreciate all he has done for the Spokane Chiefs organization and we wish him all the best going forward.SA国际影视传媒�

Cunningham, who was SpokaneSA国际影视传媒檚 third-round pick in the 2019 draft, played 65 games over parts of three seasons with the Chiefs. He scored one goal and added seven assists over that time.

He said the move wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a surprise.

SA国际影视传媒淢y agent told me that they were probably going to put me on the (waiver) wire, and the general manager said he was willing to move me,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e brought in some new guys and they told me what my place was going to be (this season).SA国际影视传媒�

He also said it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 easy to leave a place heSA国际影视传媒檚 called home during the hockey season for the better part of the last three years.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 tough to leave those guys behind,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou make those friendships and itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to say goodbye. SpokaneSA国际影视传媒檚 a great city, the fans are awesome, but this is the best decision for me and Red Deer is a great opportunity.SA国际影视传媒�

The Rebels were one of the teams interested in Cunningham prior to the draft in 2019, and he said getting a change of scenery is going to do him a world of good.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 looking at it as a chance to elevate my game,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒�(Red Deer) was interested in me. I talked with (Brent) Sutter (Red DeerSA国际影视传媒檚 general manager) and he wants to develop me. He knows what I need to do to make myself better, to get me to the next level, and I think theySA国际影视传媒檙e the right team to help me do that.SA国际影视传媒�

Cunningham hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 played in a game yet with the Rebels SA国际影视传媒� he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 still learning the systems before getting into the lineup.

But heSA国际影视传媒檚 excited to be able to play a little closer to home.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know my parents were pumped when the trade happened,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e excited that theySA国际影视传媒檒l get to see me play a bit more often and see me more.SA国际影视传媒�