March 28, 2008

Kevin Wey
McKeen's Hockey Prospects Staff

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, left-winger Luca Cunti, has had a disappointing season, but not because of his on-ice exploits. With the Chicago Steel, Cunti has averaged nearly a point per game despite joining the team midway through the season. However, the USHL was not his initial destination in 2007-08. The 18-year-old Swiss playmaker was initially slated to play college hockey for St. Cloud State, but the NCAA, in a protracted process exacerbated by the moving of its Eligibility Center from Iowa City to Indianapolis and a subsequent fire, has ruled Cunti ineligible to play NCAA hockey, now and forever.

McKeen's recently had the opportunity to chat with Cunti and discussed his time in the USHL, his thwarted attempt to play college hockey, his history in Switzerland, being drafted by Tampa Bay, a couple of his countrymen, and an NHL goal scorer that impresses him.

McKeen's: You are a ways into your USHL experience, so what are your impressions of the league and how does it compare to what you played in Switzerland?

Cunti: Compared to Switzerland, it's way faster, everybody plays the body hard, and the rink is smaller, not so wide. There's good hockey here, and I hope I can make some development here.

McKeen's: Speaking of development, what are some of the things you have been focusing on improving while you are with the Chicago Steel?

Cunti: Specifically, intensity, use the body more, and try to shoot more often.

McKeen's: On the other hand, what do you feel are your strengths as a player already?

Cunti: I like to go one-on-one everywhere. I like to make plays, passes, and for sure to make some goals.

McKeen's: Initially, you were not expected to play in the USHL, but rather with St. Cloud State. Tell me about the frustrations with that this season.

Cunti: Yeah, that was pretty bad because, first of all, I started in St. Cloud, practicing all the time, not playing, and I was waiting for the answer (from the NCAA). After the first semester, they told me that I'm red-shirted for one year. I didn't see much hope there anymore. The only thing I wanted to do was play college hockey and then try to sign a contract with Tampa. But now, I still take online classes.

McKeen's: Has the NCAA made a final decision regarding your eligibility yet?

Cunti: Yep, they made it. On appeal, final appeal, they said, nope, I cannot play college.

McKeen's: Never?

Cunti: Nope.

McKeen's: I take it that is because you have played in the Nationalliga B?

Cunti: Yeah, but that's like lower pro league. So, I don't understand why. It's just a complete misunderstanding.

McKeen's: Were you paid at all in the Nationalliga B or in the First League?

Cunti: I didn't sign a pro contract, so I didn't earn any money.

McKeen's: With that, what are your plans for next season? Are you looking to stay here, major juniors, pro, what?

Cunti: I really don't know that. Mostly, it's like, Tampa's decision, you know? But, we'll see. I didn't make plans. I will wait. I will wait for what they say.

McKeen's: What did Tampa tell you throughout that whole situation?

Cunti: They were like, disappointed that I couldn't play, so they couldn't watch me. Now, they came to some games and every month I send them an e-mail.

McKeen's: What were some of the things that made you decide to try going the college route initially?

Cunti: Because I want to study. I don't want to play hockey, only hockey. One time sure, when you play pro, but now I would like to develop and I want an education. At some point, I will finish hockey.

McKeen's: True, even Chris Chelios will retire someday. If I may ask, what were you looking to major in?

Cunti: Psychology.

McKeen's: Ah, that field certainly has a fine tradition in Switzerland.

Cunti: (Chuckles)

McKeen's: When Tampa Bay drafted you, what was your initial reaction and what did they tell you at first?

Cunti: I can't remember what they told me first. First, I was waiting and waiting, because I didn't know that I'd get drafted in the third round. I didn't know where. Some guys told me earlier, some guys told me they don't know. But, when Tampa Bay drafted me, it was like, awesome, because it was my favorite team. I was happy.

McKeen's: So Tampa was your favorite team even before then?

Cunti: Yeah. I wanted, I hoped. I didn't know if that was going to come true.

McKeen's: What made Tampa your favorite team, then?

Cunti: They're a real fancy team. They're so skilled. I don't know, it's just awesome.

McKeen's: Have you been able to skate at any developmental camps with the Lightning yet?

Cunti: No, I couldn't. I had to take the SAT and other tests and stuff like that to study all the time, so I couldn't go there.

McKeen's: Had Tampa shown interest in you prior to the draft, that you are aware of, and what other teams showed some interest in you, that you are aware of?

Cunti: Oh, I don't know. I can't remember. A lot of teams came to Switzerland to visit me. I can't remember all of them.

McKeen's: Sounds like there were many, then. Going back to your youth, when did you first start skating and when did you first start playing hockey and how did you get started?

Cunti: First, it was like figure skating. But, my father was a hockey player and my uncle, my uncle played also on the Swiss national team.

McKeen's: What was your uncle's name, if I may ask?

Cunti: Pietro.

McKeen's: Okay, I think I came across his statistics researching you [Pietro Cunti played nine seasons in the Nationalliga A between EHC Arosa, EHC Chur, and SC Bern, as well as the 1987 World Championships and 1988 Olympic Games for Switzerland].

Cunti: Then, my dad, when I was four years old, they gave me a hockey stick and it was like, "Come on, start hockey!"

McKeen's: I noticed that you played juniors with GCK. Did you skate with that club throughout your youth?

Cunti: Yeah. It is the same organization. I went step by step in this organization, and it's a pretty good organization. It's just like pretty hard to make the pros, in Switzerland, because there's mostly like the old players.

McKeen's: I noticed you played some games in the First League for EHC Dubendorf, a bit in 2005-06 and a little bit last year. How did you end up playing for that team?

Cunti: I knew the coach, he was my junior coach. He was such a good coach. His name is Christoph Schenk. He's so good. This was like, it was third division, so one lower than with the GCK Lions. His team, it was the best team of their league, and we made the playoffs. It worked out just right. At the end, we have the World Juniors [Under 18], we made the playoffs, go to the finals, and two days later, I could just go to the World Juniors.

McKeen's: I noticed that last season you also skated for Thurgau in the Nationalliga B and Weinfelden of the First League. How did you end up skating for those two clubs?

Cunti: Thurgau, they were interested and GCK Lions had a pretty rough time there, in the second league. It was a pretty hard time, and so the coach just thought I should come to Thurgau and play there on the second line. And Weinfelden, I had to change back to Dubendorf, and so that's why I played one game in Weinfelden.

McKeen's: Were you on loan to Thurgau or did GCK release your rights?

Cunti: No, it's kind of just a transfer. At that time, I didn't sign anything.

McKeen's: So they put on you loan, so to speak. As you touched upon, you have played for Team Switzerland at two U18 tournaments, including 2005 when you had just turned 16. What was that like, playing for Switzerland so young?

Cunti: Uh, I can only say we lost everything afterwards. I didn't know what's going on. It was always an honor to play for your land, your country. I couldn't make it this year, because of the situation with the NCAA. I was pretty sad, but it's always an honor. If I was young or not, it's still an honor.

McKeen's: What are some of your favorite memories with the national team?

Cunti: Oh, one is a tournament in Sweden, last year. We won against the USA, Sweden, and Finland.

McKeen's: Ah, the Four Nations Tournament?

Cunti: Yep.

McKeen's: I have noticed that you have played with a player who is in the AHL this year, Juraj Simek. Tell me a bit about him and his game.

Cunti: I didn't see him for long, now, but he's pretty intense and he has some skill. We'll see which way he goes.

McKeen's: You have also played with goaltender Reto Berra, drafted by the St. Louis Blues. Tell me about his game.

Cunti: I remember him so good when we were playing on the same team. And he's just like, always when he was in the net, we just felt safe, because he just picks up everything. And he's a great guy.

McKeen's: Lastly, who was your favorite player, or maybe players, growing up and why?

Cunti: I don't know, I never really had one. I like Ilya Kovalchuk. I mean, I like the guys from Tampa, for sure, but I like Ilya Kovalchuk especially, because he can protect the puck so well and he's so big and he's so fast.