Heatherington hopes to impress
Defenceman enjoying stellar year
Dillon Heatherington surely has an intriguing skill-set for Team Canada’s World Junior talent evaluators.
He’s big and imposing (6foot-4, 206 pounds). He’s a shutdown guy, erasing opponents (+15 with Swift Current this season, +40 for his WHL career).
He’s a winner (helped Team Canada claim the 2013 U18 world title).
And he has some offence, too (19 points in 23 games this season).
But there are plenty of defencemen vying for the right to wear the Maple Leaf in Malmo, Sweden this holiday season. So he needs to continue turning heads at the highest levels and the next chance is right there in front of him: The Subway Super Series. Heatherington is a part of Team WHL, which will go head to head against
Team Russia on Nov. 27 in Red Deer and the next night in Lethbridge.
“Bringing all the high level talent in the Western league and put it on one team, it’s a great experience,” he said, noting having teammate Colby Cave also make the roster adds an element of familiarity.
“You want to win those two games even though they don’t go as two points in your column. There’s definitely a lot more on the line than that.”
And you can bet Hockey Canada talent evaluators will be out in full force as World Junior team selection nears.
“Playing for Team Canada would be a tremendous honour and I would be so humbled by that, but I’m just trying to take it day by day and make sure you put your best foot forward in each and every game and shift. That will translate into good things,” said the 18-year-old who rose out of the Bronks/ Flames triple-A organizations in the northwest quadrant of Calgary. “Making that team would be such a great experience.”
It would also cap a tremendous calendar year for the stalwart Broncos defender.
After celebrating with the gold medal at the World U18s in Sochi, Russia in April, Heatherington heard his name called in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft (50th overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He attended a summer prospect camp with the Jackets before skating in Calgary at Hockey Canada’s U20 summer camp and then jetting back to Ohio for the Jackets rookie camp, where he participated in a prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich. His play earned him a little more than a week at the Jackets’ main camp.
“Just playing with the pros in practice and scrimmages was an experience — shooting on (Sergei) Bobrovsky, the Vezina winner, and having Marian Gaborik coming down on you oneon-one, it’s just things that you cherish and definitely remember.”
And, like many juniors who attend pro camps, he was able to act like a sponge and bring that back to the WHL, where he’s having a breakout year.
“You just learn so much and soak in so much information and details of what the players do on a daily basis that you bring back to your junior team. Not only does that benefit you but the whole team you kind of rely on to do those details.”
The Broncos are certainly flying, sitting second in the WHL’s Eastern Conference (14-8-0-1), and will present a handful when they land at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday to meet the Calgary Hitmen (7 p.m., SN960). It will mark another chance for Heatherington’s family and friends see him live. This one’s more than just a homecoming even though the Broncos boast another five area products besides the bruising defenceman — Bobby Zinkan, Brycen Martin, Coda Gordon, Cavin Leth and Jay Merkley. The Hitmen were the team that knocked them out of the first round of the playoffs last season.
“It’s always a fun game coming back to Calgary in the hometown and having friends and family in the building. But we’re definitely there for business as they did knock us out in the playoffs. Going in, we have to make sure we put our best game forward and bring our ‘A’ game.”
HITMEN NOTES …Every team goes through low points and that seems to be where Calgary is right now, losers of their last four games. The Hitmen, who’ve won just once in their last seven contests, were still sitting fourth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference before Tuesday’s action—a testament to how well they were playing just three weeks ago. So there’s plenty of time to right the ship. After the Swift Current game, they’ll host lowly Moose Jaw (the Warriors just lost 7-1 to the Broncos on Monday and were five games below .500 before facing Lethbridge on Tuesday night) on Sunday (6 p.m., Saddledome) and will close out a six-game homestand vs. Prince George (Nov. 21) and Everett (Nov. 23).
AROUND THE LEAGUE … Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Tristan Jarry was named the Canadian Hockey League’s player of the week on Tuesday after posting a 2-1 record with two shutouts, a GAA of 0.67 and a save percentage of .977l ast week … Heatherington is also being tapped for some leadership on the Swift Current Broncos. An assistant captain on the team, he has plenty of advice for Broncos’ NHL draft eligible players such as import sensation Julius Honka and fellow Calgarian Martin. “Just going through the draft year, it’s a wild experience, one that you don’t really experience any other year,” Heatherington said. “I’m just kind of talking them through it and making sure they get a good feel for what they’re getting into. Making sure they know all the small things count. Even the things like away from the rink, making sure you get in the gym.” … A Sutter has been promoted in Red Deer. Shaun Sutter, son of Brian and nephew of Rebels GM/head coach/ owner Brent Sutter, has been named the team’s new assistant GM/director of player personnel. Previously a senior scout with the Rebels, Shaun Sutter will relocate from Calgary to Red Deer.