For the second time this season, a BCHL alum has taken the Hockey Commissioner’s Association (HCA) monthly player award.
Danton Heinen, the Boston Bruins draft pick, former Surrey Eagles captain and current standout at the University of Denver, got the nod for February. Michael Garteig, a Powell River and Penticton alum, earned the same recognition in November.
For Heinen, it was his role in leading Denver to an undefeated month while going +14 in six games that earned him the accolades. The native of Langley, B.C. posted five goals and 10 assists for the Pioneers as they went 6-0, earning conference sweeps over North Dakota, Colorado College and Western Michigan. The 6-foot, 161-pound forward opened the month with a bang, registering 2-3-5 in a 6-4 win over North Dakota and proceeded to post two points in each of the next five games. His contributions run his scoring streak to 10 games and puts him at 15-20-35 in 32 games this season.
With Surrey, Heinen took over the Eagles’ captaincy in January 2014 after Brett Mulcahy was moved to Vernon. He had 21 points in 18 games after the roster deadline that season and posted seven points in six playoff games. It was his lone full BCHL season and he wound up with 29-33-62 in 57 games.
In the NCAA, his production has only gotten better. To date, Heinen has 31-49-80 in 72 career games with the Pioneers.
Other BCHL grads recognized in this week’s NCAA monthly player news were Langley Rivermen alum Gage Torrel and Powell River Kings alum Jacob Pritchard. Both were honourable mentions for rookie of the month.
