Blue Jackets take Heatherington in second round

Swift Current Broncos defenseman Dillon Heatherington heard his name called at the National Hockey League Entry Draft Sunday. When the Columbus Blue Jackets called his name in the second round, 50th overall, Heatherington became the highest drafted Bronco in 13 years.

Heatherington led the Broncos with a plus-25 rating in 2012-13. The Calgary native nearly tripled his offensive production with four goals and 23 assists in 71 games on the Broncos blueline. The 6’4’’, 196-pound defenseman added 80 penalty minutes after registering 63 minutes during his rookie season.

He also helped Team Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships this spring and was recently named one of 12 defensemen invited to Canada’s Under-20 Summer Camp.

“He has been a great kid to coach,” said Broncos Head Coach and General Manager Mark Lamb prior to the draft. “He is a coachable kid that wants to learn everyday. His work ethic is incredible. You can compare it to any player, an Adam Lowry or any of those guys. He buys in, not just wanting to play on the powerplay and play with the puck like some kids want to do. He bought into his role and he has just got better at it. He has progressed into one of the better defensive defensemen in the league. Also, his offensive ability and the type of player he is going to be is coming along. He is turning into the full package.”

Heatherington is the highest drafted member of the franchise since Nathan Smith was drafted 23rd overall in 2000.

The Colorado Avalanche opened the draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey by making Halifax Mooseheads’ centre Nathan MacKinnon the number one overall pick.

Portland defenseman Seth Jones was the first Western Hockey League player selected when the Nashville Predators took him fourth overall.

The accolades started earlier in the weekend for Heatherington when he was named to Hockey Canada’s U-20 Summer Camp roster on Friday.

Heatherington is one of 12 defenseman invited to the camp, with seven other Western Hockey League defenseman joining him.

The 35 players (three goaltenders, 12 defenseman, 20 forwards) will attend Canada’s National Junior Team summer development camp, set for Aug. 4-10 in Brossard, Que., and Lake Placid, N.Y. In total, 22 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2013 to Jan. 5, 2014 in Malmö, Sweden.