Luca Cunti Explained

Luca Cunti
Team:EHC Biel
League:NL
Former Teams:SCL Tigers
ZSC Lions
EHC Kloten
HC Lugano
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:209
Birth Date:1989 7, mf=yes
Birth Place:Zurich, Switzerland
Draft:75th overall
Draft Team:Tampa Bay Lightning
Draft Year:2007
Career Start:2005
Ntl Team:Switzerland

Luca Cunti (born July 4, 1989) is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for EHC Biel in the National League (NL). He previously played for the SCL Tigers, the ZSC Lions, EHC Kloten and HC Lugano. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 3rd round (75th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Cunti played two North American junior seasons in the United States Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before returning to his native Switzerland, unsigned from the Lightning, to continue his career with the SCL Tigers.[1] He later moved to rivals the ZSC Lions and signed a two-year contract extension on October 19, 2011.[2]

On April 22, 2014, Cunti was signed to a three-year contract extension by the Lions. In his final year of his contract with Zurich, Cunti agreed to a two-year contract with HC Lugano for the start of the 2017–18 season, with a reported worth of CHF2.4 million.

On January 11, 2017, Cunti was shipped to ZSC's longtime rival, EHC Kloten for the remainder of the 2016–17 season. Cunti didn't join Lugano before the end of the 2016–17 season as the Lions insisted on a clause which would have prevented Cunti from playing any game against Zurich. This clause was not accepted by Lugano and therefore, Cunti joined Kloten.[3]

Cunti made his debut with Kloten against Lausanne HC on January 13, 2017, scoring one goal and tallying one assist. Cunti's short stint with Kloten ended on March 14, 2017, once Kloten saved itself from relegation and despite 2 games remaining in the playout round. He went on to play 16 games for Kloten, tallying 4 goals and 9 assists, before joining Lugano in the summer of 2017.

After only 11 games into the 2018–19 season, Cunti badly hurt his left shoulder, which would eventually end his season. On December 24, 2018, Cunti agreed to a two-year contract worth CHF 1.2 million with EHC Biel, starting for the 2019–20 season and through the 2020–21 season. Cunti played 54 regular season games with Lugano (25 points) over two seasons as well as 16 playoff games in 2018 (10 points), helping the team reach the final.

On February 4, 2021, Cunti agreed to a four-year contract extension with EHC Biel.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2004–05GCK LionsSUI U203212102218
2004–05EHC Dübendorf SUI.320000
2005–06GCK LionsSUI U204620244434
2005–06GCK LionsSUI.270002
2005–06EHC Dübendorf SUI.36156062240
2006–07GCK LionsSUI U2013971622
2006–07GCK LionsSUI.251120
2006–07HC ThurgauSUI.251016
2006–07SC Weinfelden SUI.312020
2006–07EHC Dübendorf SUI.31188161810471110
2006–07Switzerland U20SUI.230002
2007–08Chicago SteelUSHL341121323762352
2008–09Rimouski OcéanicQMJHL57202545321345912
2009–10SCL TigersNLA121124
2010–11GCK LionsSUI.2429233280
2011–12ZSC LionsNLA3511132418151786
2012–13ZSC LionsNLA4410203018122356
2013–14ZSC LionsNLA461826446018551010
2014–15ZSC LionsNLA349142314173472
2015–16ZSC LionsNLA3299181420000
2016–17ZSC LionsNLA244486
2016–17EHC KlotenNLA1229118
2017–18HC LuganoNL48813211816371018
2018–19HC LuganoNL111344
2019–20EHC BielNL448223040
2020–21EHC BielNL441321343420004
2021–22EHC BielNL42718252841124
NL totals4231011732742668615274250

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2005SwitzerlandWJC189th61120
2007SwitzerlandWJC186th63146
2013SwitzerlandWC102352
2014SwitzerlandOG9th40000
2014SwitzerlandWC10th71342
Junior totals 124266
Senior totals 213694

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tigers sign NHL prospect Cunti . . 2009-10-13 . 2009-10-14 . German . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053221/http://www.scltigers.ch/news-content.aspx?id=593 . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  2. Web site: http://www.zsclions.ch/index.php?id=62&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews<!--[tt_news-->=1408 Two contract extensions ]. . 2011-10-19 . 2011-10-19.
  3. Web site: From Zurich to Kloten - ZSC'S Luca Cunti joins EHC Kloten . www.swisshockeynews.ch. 2017-01-11 . 2017-01-11.
  4. Web site: Luca Cunti to stay with EHC Biel for another four years . www.swisshockeynews.ch. 2021-02-04 . 2021-03-11.