As a youngster playing minor hockey in 91原创, Danton Heinen dreamed of playing for the Vancouver Canucks one day.
He grew up going to Canuck games and idolized the likes of Markus Naslund, and later on, Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
Wednesday night that dream becomes reality when Heinen suits up to make his Canucks debut against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena in the regular season opener for both teams.
It will be a special night not only for Heinen but for his family as well.
For Rick and Veronica Heinen, it will be an emotional moment when their son steps out onto the ice wearing jersey #20 for the Canucks.
They鈥檒l probably remember the time a young six-year-old Danton had to choose between soccer and hockey and picked the latter in about .05 milliseconds. They鈥檒l remember the love that Danton had for hockey as a kid 鈥� always wanting to go to a practice or a game. They鈥檒l remember the commitment that powered him through the adversity he faced such as getting cut from rep teams growing up.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be one of those surreal moments where you鈥檙e asking, 鈥業s this really happening?鈥� You always dream about him coming back home to play but you never know. It鈥檚 going to be good. To be truthful, I鈥檒l probably have a little tear in my eye,鈥� said the elder Heinen, who has had season-tickets to the Canucks through the family鈥檚 company 鈥� B.C. Greenhouse Builders 鈥� since 1995.
Besides Rick and Veronica, Danton鈥檚 siblings will also be in attendance as brother Cody and sisters Jessica and Olivia will be there along with about 10 other family members. In addition, a circle of over 30 friends is expected to take in the game as well.
As for Danton, he鈥檚 trying to focus on what鈥檚 happening on the ice, not off it.
Heinen will start the season on a line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser and is excited about the opportunity.
鈥淭hose guys are such good players. They think the game so well and they feed off one another. I鈥檓 just trying to compliment them, listen to them and have some fun,鈥� Heinen said.
After seven seasons in the NHL with Boston, Anaheim and Pittsburgh, the transition to becoming a Canuck has been a smooth one for the 29-year-old Heinen.
鈥淓veryone has been great and made me feel comfortable. On the ice, I think it鈥檚 just a few things systems-wise and that just comes with reps but for the most part it has been pretty seamless,鈥� said Heinen, who adds that the pre-season was a big help in learning a new system.
Canucks Coach Rick Tocchet is excited about the addition of Heinen to the lineup.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got some hockey IQ and he鈥檚 a very smooth type of player. He can play up and down the lineup, but saying that, I think he can be pushed to another level. I think there鈥檚 another level there and he wants it. He鈥檚 getting a chance with Millsy and Bess where he can score some goals and I see it there,鈥� said Tocchet.
Heinen is excited about playing for Tocchet.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been great. He鈥檚 a coach that you want to do well for. He鈥檚 a natural motivator, he鈥檚 approachable and easy to talk to. He treats everyone well,鈥� said Heinen.
As for the Sedins, Heinen admits he鈥檚 still getting used to being on the ice with Daniel and Henrik during practice but has had very positive interactions with the Hall of Famers thus far.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e such great guys and you learn so much from them. They spend time with you and are willing to teach you things. They are awesome. And it鈥檚 great having them around,鈥� noted Heinen, who played for the BCHL鈥檚 Surrey Eagles before earning a scholarship to the University of Denver.
And as for that Canucks debut on Wednesday versus the Flames?
鈥淚t will be pretty cool. As a kid, the NHL to me was the Canucks and going to games. I鈥檓 sure it is going to be a fun night,鈥� said Heinen.
And for Rick Heinen, it will be mission accomplished.
Rick had met Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin on a couple of occasions during Danton鈥檚 time in Pittsburgh when Allvin was with the Penguins organization. When Allvin joined the Canucks, the pair renewed acquaintances at some charity events with Rick joking that it would be nice to bring Danton home someday.
Wednesday night at Rogers Arena, he does.
It should make for a great night for the Heinen clan.
OVERTIME
* It was a busy weekend for Allvin, who made a couple of moves. The hockey club announced that they agreed to terms with forward Nils Hoglander on a three-year contract extension with an annual average salary of $3 million. The Canucks also made a trade, sending injured defenseman Tucker Poolman and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Erik Brannstrom with Vancouver retaining 20% of Poolman鈥檚 salary. The deal gets rid of the salary cap anchor that Poolman鈥檚 contract had become and gives the club more flexibility with roster decisions. Complicating matters for Vancouver is that forwards Conor Garland and Pius Suter are not 100% healthy heading into the season.
* Tocchet has come into this season hoping to have his defensemen generate more offense off of transition but says it鈥檚 still a work in progress. 鈥淚t鈥檚 reps and practicing at the high pace that we do and then implementing that in a game. We鈥檝e given them some more concepts like more 鈥楧鈥� dives and activating the 鈥楧鈥� on the weakside. It鈥檚 mainly 鈥榳hen do I go?鈥� and 鈥榳hen don鈥檛 I?鈥� and that鈥檚 just getting the reps,鈥� explained Tocchet, who also added the score in the game would dictate what choices his D-men would make.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 鈥渢he Moj鈥� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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