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Heitzner coming home to play for Terriers

Former Barrie Colt forward opts to walk away from OHL; 'I'm hoping to find that enjoyment of the game again'

Kyle Heitzner is skating away from his OHL dreams and coming home to chase a league championship with the Orillia Terriers, the city’s Jr. C team.

“I’m excited to come home,” said Heitzner, who grew up playing minor hockey in Orillia before joining the North Central Predators AAA program in Rama. “My overall goal is to help Orillia win a Schmaltz Cup.”

The former Barrie Colts forward, traded earlier this month to Mississauga, is hoping to rediscover his joy for the game that helped shape him.

“I’m hoping to find that enjoyment of the game again and I think playing in front of the hometown crowd, hopefully scoring some goals … I think that will help me get my confidence back.”

The fun had been waning for Heitzner, who could never quite find a regular role with a deep and talented Colts team. He was a healthy scratch to start this season and was then dealt to the Mississauga Steelheads.

However, in recent days, a pair of top-line forwards returned from NHL camps, meaning a lesser role for the Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School graduate.

“I went there and I enjoyed it,” said Heitzner of his brief stint in Mississauga. “The coaches were great, the facility was nice and my teammates were awesome.”

But he could see the writing on the wall. “I love the game, but I didn’t love the role I was playing, so I decided to move home.”

The Terriers’ resurgence was a big factor in Heitzner’s decision. Last year, the moribund club won just four games. This year, under new ownership and with a new management team and coaching staff, the team is off to a strong 6-4 start and sit just two points out of first place.

He is also stoked to play with a couple of long-time friends. Terriers captain Jake Beard skated alongside Heitzner when the two played Jr. B hockey in Cambridge and Heitzner is a lifelong friend of his old PF schoolmate Kyle Fischer, who recently re-signed with the team.

“I think to come back and play with Jake and to do something special here in his final year … that would be amazing,” said Heitzner, 19.

Terriers GM Andrew McDonald said signing Heitzner is likely “the biggest” signing in team history. But it’s bigger than adding a first-line centre and power-play star, he said, noting Heitzner could play for the team for two more seasons.

“Kyle’s a leader and he’s a quality person,” said McDonald. “Good players come from good families and we’re just thrilled to have Kyle come play for the Terriers.”

McDonald said he has been courting the talented, speedy forward for months. When Heitzner joined some prospects at an April open skate, the Terriers’ GM gently prodded the fleet-footed forward. “I said to him then: ‘You’d look awfully good in an Orillia Terriers uniform.’ But he wasn’t ready then.”

The signing cements the team’s credibility, said McDonald.

“I think what it means most is that we’ve done what we set out to do at the end of last season and that is to make it palatable for a quality player like (Heitzner) to come home and play hockey,” he said.

McDonald credits owner Jamie Clarke and others on the management team, including Roy Micks and Jason Hooper, and the team’s new coaching staff of Nick Ricca and Dallyn Telford for their roles in creating the right atmosphere that paved the way for the signing.

“It takes a village,” said McDonald. “I think (Heitzner) and his family could see not only how the team had improved, but how the community has come out and supported the team … it’s been amazing to see.”

McDonald hinted there may be other "big" signings on the horizon, noting word of Heitzner's signing has meant his phone has started to ring.

As for Heitzner, he’s looking forward to donning the Orillia colours.

“I want to win every game and I’m looking forward to being in a role where there’s some pressure on me and I’m expected to play in key situations. That’s where I excel the most – when I’m getting that opportunity,” he said. “It will be great to get back to that.”

Heitzner will make his Terrier debut Friday night in Midland. The team has a public community skate Saturday night at which Heitzner will join his teammates, but he won’t play his first home game until Nov. 3 when the Terriers host Alliston at Rotary Place.


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Dave Dawson

About the Author: Dave Dawson

Dave Dawson is community editor of OrilliaMatters.com
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