Shaun Heshka

Shaun Heshka (born July 30, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, who currently plays for Rauman Lukko of the Finnish Liiga.

Shaun Heshka
Heshka with the Manitoba Moose in 2008
Born (1985-07-30) July 30, 1985
Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
Liiga team
Former teams		 Rauman Lukko
Phoenix Coyotes
EC Red Bull Salzburg
Ässät
Ak Bars Kazan
Admiral Vladivostok
Modo Hockey
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2006–present

Playing career

Heshka played his junior years for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL). After completing his time with the Silvertips, Heshka was signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a three-year entry level contract on July 24, 2006. In his professional debut season in 2006–07, Heshka played with the Canucks affiliates, the Manitoba Moose and the Victoria Salmon Kings. Following two productive seasons with the Moose in the American Hockey League, Heshka's rights were traded by the Canucks to the Phoenix Coyotes at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on June 27, 2009.[1]

On July 3, 2010, Heshka signed a one-year contract to remain with the Coyotes.[2] Shaun was initially assigned to the Coyotes' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, to start the 2009–10 season.

After leading the Rampage defence in scoring, Heshka received his first callup from the Coyotes on November 6, 2009. He made his NHL debut the following night, in a tight game with the Anaheim Ducks on November 7.[3] On November 12, Heshka scored his first career NHL point, an assist on a Paul Bissonnette goal, in a 4-2 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens.[4] After 8 games and 2 assists with the Coyotes, he was then reassigned to the Rampage after a number of Coyotes players returned from injuries.

Unable to reach an agreement or be traded, Heshka was forced to play overseas. He signed with EC Red Bull Salzburg on September 6, 2010. The 25-year-old remained a restricted free agent throughout the 2010–11 season with the Coyotes. He went on to play a critical defensive role in the Red Bulls' spectacular 2011 season, securing his position as a team leader in the overtime championship win in game 7 of the series final.

On November 15, 2012, Heshka signed a two-year contract with Porin Ässät of the Finnish SM-liiga. In the 2012–13 season on April 24, 2013, Heshka won the Finnish Elite League championship with Porin Ässät. He was named to the SM-liiga Allstar team as well as being named the best defenseman in the league (Pekka Rautakallio Award).

On June 18, 2013, Heshka departed Ässät on a mutual release and signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.[5] He led the team's defence in scoring and was named to the starting lineup of the KHL Allstar Game for Team East held in Bratalsava. In the midst of his second season with the club under a new head coach in 2014–15, Heshka was traded to Admiral Vladivostok on October 31, 2014.[6]

After playing out the season with Vladivostok, Heshka left the KHL to sign a one-year contract in Sweden with Modo Hockey of the SHL on May 28, 2015.[7]

Personal life

Heshka is married to Laura, and they reside with their children in Winnipeg, Manitoba during the offseason.[8]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2001–02 Tisdale Trojans AAA SMHL 417233044 —————
2002–03 Melville Millionaires SJHL 536142053 —————
2003–04 Everett Silvertips WHL 66371025 210228
2004–05 Everett Silvertips WHL 72 12263821 112026
2005–06 Everett Silvertips WHL 6610495991 143101310
2006–07 Manitoba Moose AHL 5724614 70008
2006–07 Victoria Salmon Kings ECHL 30114 —————
2007–08 Manitoba Moose AHL 779213059 60114
2008–09 Manitoba Moose AHL 773232625 2205512
2009–10 San Antonio Rampage AHL 737263334 —————
2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 80224 —————
2010–11 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 506182432 18371014
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 100116 —————
2011–12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 604141812 —————
2012–13 Ässät SM-l 608233126 161786
2013–14 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 548223034 61232
2014–15 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 221568 —————
2014–15 Admiral Vladivostok KHL 352111314 —————
2015–16 MODO Hockey SHL 50191014 —————
2016–17 Kärpät Liiga 588243224 20002
2017–18 Kärpät Liiga 5210182857 184598
2018–19 Kärpät Liiga 528202820 171566
2019–20 Kärpät Liiga 515242910 —————
2020–21 Kärpät Liiga 412161816 50334
AHL totals 3542589114150 3506624
NHL totals 80224 —————
Liiga totals 31441125166153 586202626

Awards and honours
Award Year
WHL
West First All-Star Team 2006

References
  1. "Completed trades from day 2 of the Draft". National Hockey League. June 27, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  2. "Phoenix Coyotes sign Shaun Heshka to one-year contract". National Hockey League. July 3, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  3. "Hiller loses shutout, but hold on for Ducks win". Yahoo! Sports. November 7, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  4. "Bergeron, Metropolit help Canadiens beat Coyotes". Yahoo! Sports. November 12, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  5. "Ak Bars announces recruits" (in Russian). Ak Bars Kazan. June 18, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  6. "Shaun Heshka acquired by Admiral" (in Russian). Admiral Vladivostok. October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  7. "Shaun Heshka to Modo Hockey" (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  8. "Shaun Heshka: "I have Ukrainian roots"". sport.business.ru. October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
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