As the National Hockey League heads into the playoffs, junior hockey begins to wind itself down for another season.

That means Logan Cunningham is all done with his rookie season as a member of the Western Hockey LeagueSA国际影视传媒檚 Spokane Chiefs.

The 17-year-old defenceman managed to dress for 14 games this season and while he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 hit the score sheet in any of those games, he said the experience of his first WHL season, as weird as it was, was good.

SA国际影视传媒淭he coaches rode our top lines and ice time was at a premium sometimes,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 still got a decent amount of ice time. It was tough, but good.SA国际影视传媒�

The WHL played its season in pods with absolutely no travel over international borders under the leagueSA国际影视传媒檚 return-to-play guidelines. The five American teams played in what was known as a SA国际影视传媒減odSA国际影视传媒� and were scheduled to play a total of 24 games versus each other.

Cunningham wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the only player from Yellowknife within the American pod as Jonah Bevington got the chance to play with the Portland Winterhawks in what was also his rookie season. Both players suited up twice in games against each other during the abbreviated season but they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 match up against one another.

SA国际影视传媒淚 never got him along the boards or anything like that SA国际影视传媒� it would have been easy to rub him out if I did,SA国际影视传媒� joked Cunningham.

That didnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen for Spokane as two of their games against the Tri-City Americans were cancelled due to members of the Americans testing positive for Covid-19 earlier in the season.

That didnSA国际影视传媒檛 bother Cunningham, though.

SA国际影视传媒淚 still felt good out there,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢aking the jump to the WHL from midget is tough because the pace is so much quicker and the players are stronger. You go from being used to throwing guys around in midget to being the new kid and you find out just how tough it is but I managed to hold my own.SA国际影视传媒�

Like almost anything else, once he got the hang of it, he said it became easier to adapt.

SA国际影视传媒淢y last few games of the season were the best ones,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was used to it by then and I got better with each game.SA国际影视传媒�

The hope for next year is that things will go back to the way it used to be: a full season with a chance of impressing some scouts along the way. You see, Cunningham is eligible for the National Hockey League draft in 2022 and while thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not at the top of his list of to-do things right now, he wants to be ready for whatever happens.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to work on my size and speed for next season,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he game sense is there SA国际影视传媒� I know what I have to do when ISA国际影视传媒檓 out on the ice SA国际影视传媒� but I want to get bigger and faster so I can handle players better. No oneSA国际影视传媒檚 really watching you when youSA国际影视传媒檙e a younger player.SA国际影视传媒�