As a youngster playing minor hockey in Langley, 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乌鸦传媒檒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乌鸦传媒檒l remember the love that Danton had for hockey as a kid 乌鸦传媒� always wanting to go to a practice or a game. They乌鸦传媒檒l remember the commitment that powered him through the adversity he faced such as getting cut from rep teams growing up.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 going to be one of those surreal moments where you乌鸦传媒檙e asking, 乌鸦传媒業s this really happening?乌鸦传媒� You always dream about him coming back home to play but you never know. It乌鸦传媒檚 going to be good. To be truthful, I乌鸦传媒檒l probably have a little tear in my eye,乌鸦传媒� said the elder Heinen, who has had season-tickets to the Canucks through the family乌鸦传媒檚 company 乌鸦传媒� B.C. Greenhouse Builders 乌鸦传媒� since 1995.
Besides Rick and Veronica, Danton乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 trying to focus on what乌鸦传媒檚 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.
乌鸦传媒淭hose guys are such good players. They think the game so well and they feed off one another. I乌鸦传媒檓 just trying to compliment them, listen to them and have some fun,乌鸦传媒� 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.
乌鸦传媒淓veryone has been great and made me feel comfortable. On the ice, I think it乌鸦传媒檚 just a few things systems-wise and that just comes with reps but for the most part it has been pretty seamless,乌鸦传媒� 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.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 got some hockey IQ and he乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 another level there and he wants it. He乌鸦传媒檚 getting a chance with Millsy and Bess where he can score some goals and I see it there,乌鸦传媒� said Tocchet.
Heinen is excited about playing for Tocchet.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 been great. He乌鸦传媒檚 a coach that you want to do well for. He乌鸦传媒檚 a natural motivator, he乌鸦传媒檚 approachable and easy to talk to. He treats everyone well,乌鸦传媒� said Heinen.
As for the Sedins, Heinen admits he乌鸦传媒檚 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.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙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乌鸦传媒檚 great having them around,乌鸦传媒� noted Heinen, who played for the BCHL乌鸦传媒檚 Surrey Eagles before earning a scholarship to the University of Denver.
And as for that Canucks debut on Wednesday versus the Flames?
乌鸦传媒淚t will be pretty cool. As a kid, the NHL to me was the Canucks and going to games. I乌鸦传媒檓 sure it is going to be a fun night,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 salary. The deal gets rid of the salary cap anchor that Poolman乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 still a work in progress. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 reps and practicing at the high pace that we do and then implementing that in a game. We乌鸦传媒檝e given them some more concepts like more 乌鸦传媒楧乌鸦传媒� dives and activating the 乌鸦传媒楧乌鸦传媒� on the weakside. It乌鸦传媒檚 mainly 乌鸦传媒榳hen do I go?乌鸦传媒� and 乌鸦传媒榳hen don乌鸦传媒檛 I?乌鸦传媒� and that乌鸦传媒檚 just getting the reps,乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渢he Moj乌鸦传媒� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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