Dillon Heatherington

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Dillon Heatherington

| image = Dillon Heatherington.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Heatherington with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|05|09}}

| birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 215

| position = Defence

| shoots = Left

| league = AHL

| team = San Diego Gulls

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| former_teams = Dallas Stars
Barys Nur-Sultan
Ottawa Senators

| draft = 50th overall

| draft_year = 2013

| draft_team = Columbus Blue Jackets

| career_start = 2015

| career_end =

}}

Dillon Heatherington (born May 9, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL). Heatherington was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft. He previously played with the Dallas Stars and Ottawa Senators of the NHL and Barys Nur-Sultan of the Kontinental Hockey League.

Playing career

Heatherington began his major junior hockey career with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 2011–12 season. After two years, he developed into one of the league's best defensive defencemen, tasked with shutting down the opposing team's top forwards, playing alongside Reece Scarlett.{{cite web |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/nhl-draft-tracker-dillon-heatherington-swift-current-broncos-213831471.html |title=NHL draft tracker: Dillon Heatherington, Swift Current Broncos |last=Friesen |first=Kelly |work=Yahoo! Sports |date=June 5, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2023}} Leading up to the 2013 NHL entry draft, Heatherington was lauded as a top prospect. He played his entire junior career with Swift Current, scoring 13 goals and 84 points in 237 games.{{cite web |url=http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=755822 |title=Blue Jackets sign 2013 second-round draft pick Dillon Heatherington |publisher=Columbus Blue Jackets |date=2015-03-01 |access-date=2015-03-01}}

Heatherington was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round, 50th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft. On March 1, 2015, Heatherington's signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets. In his first full professional season in 2015–16, Heatherington was assigned to the Blue Jackets new American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. As a staple of the Monsters defense corps, Heatherington appeared in 63 games adding 19 points. In the post-season, he collected 3 assists in 15 games as he helped contribute to the Monsters claiming the Calder Cup in his rookie season. During the following 2016–17 season, Heatherington battled injury and collected 6 points in 38 games with the renamed Cleveland Monsters before he was dealt at the NHL trade deadline by the Blue Jackets to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Lauri Korpikoski on March 1, 2017. He was subsequently sent down to the Stars AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-acquire-defenseman-dillon-heatherington-from-columbus-in-exchange-for-left-wing-lauri-korpikoski/c-287270170 |title=Stars acquire Heatherington from CBJ for Korpikoski |date=2017-03-01 |access-date=2017-03-01 |publisher=Dallas Stars}}

Heatherington was called up by the Stars on January 13, 2018, to replace Marc Methot, who was placed on injured reserve (IR).{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/stars-dillon-heatherington-called-up-to-highest-level/ |title=Stars' Dillon Heatherington: Called up to highest level |website=CBS Sports |date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018}} He played his first career NHL game against the team that drafted him, the Columbus Blue Jackets, on January 18, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Helka |first1=Mike |title=Stars' Dillon Heatherington wanted to 'stick it to' the Columbus Blue Jackets in his NHL debut |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-stars/stars/2018/01/18/stars-dillon-heatherington-wantedto-stick-colombus-blue-jackets-nhl-debut |work=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=January 19, 2018 |date=January 18, 2018}} He recorded his first NHL point in a shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 9, 2018, by assisting on Tyler Seguin's first period goal.{{cite web |title=Lehtonen, Seguin lead Stars over Penguins in SO |url=https://www.tsn.ca/lehtonen-seguin-lead-stars-over-penguins-in-so-1.994380 |website=TSN |agency=The Canadian Press |access-date=March 15, 2018 |date=February 9, 2018}} He appeared in six games with Dallas before being sent back to the AHL.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-reassign-dillon-heatherington-mike-mckenna-to-american-hockey-league-texas-stars/c-297808708 |title=Stars reassign Heatherington, McKenna to Texas |publisher=Dallas Stars |date=April 8, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2023}} That season he narrowly missed winning his second Calder Cup after the Texas Stars were defeated by the Toronto Marlies in seven games.{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/toronto-marlies-beat-texas-stars-6-1-to-win-ahl-calder-cup-final-in-seven-games-1.3974526 |title=Toronto Marlies beat Texas Stars 6-1 to win AHL Calder Cup final in seven games |work=CTV News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2023}} He re-signed with Dallas in the offseason on July 16, 2018 to a one-year two-way contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-sign-defenseman-dillon-heatherington-to-one-year-two-way-contract/c-299498976 |title=Stars sign defenseman Dillon Heatherington to one-year, two-way contract |publisher=Dallas Stars |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2023}} In the 2018–19 season, Heatherington played in five games with the Stars registering one point.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-reassign-denis-gurianov-dillon-heatherington-to-texas/c-301834242 |title=Stars reassign Gurianov, Heatherington to Texas |publisher=Dallas Stars |date=November 11, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2023}}

Having left the Stars organization as a free agent after four seasons, Heatherington signed his first contract abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with Kazakh club, Barys Nur-Sultan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on November 2, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://hcbarys.kz/news/item/dillon-heterington-pereshyol-v-barys/ |title=ДИЛЛОН ХЕТЕРИНГТОН ПЕРЕШЁЛ В "БАРЫС" |trans-title=Dillon Heatherington Moved to Barys | publisher=Barys Nur-Sultan |date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=November 2, 2020 |language=Russian}} He played in 41 games with Barys scoring two goals and seven points.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/sens-agree-to-terms-with-heatherington-and-sherwood/c-325872042 |title=Sens agree to terms with Heatherington and Sherwood |publisher=Ottawa Senators |date=July 29, 2021 |access-date=July 29, 2021}}

After a lone season in the KHL with Barys, Heatherington returned to North America and the NHL in agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 29, 2021. During the 2021–22 season Heatherington appeared in nine games with the Senators without registering a point.{{cite web |url=https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2022/12/07/senators-recall-defenceman-dillon-heatherington-from-belleville-6212268/ |title=Senators recall defenceman Dillon Heatherington from Belleville |work=CityNews |date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2023}} With Belleville, Heatherington has two goals and thirteen points in 45 games. In the offseason, Heatherington signed a two-year two-way extension with the Senators.{{cite web |url=https://bellevillesens.com/senators-sign-defenceman-dillon-heatherington-two-year-two-way-contract-extension/ |title=Senators sign defenceman Dillon Heatherington to a two-year, two-way contract extension |publisher=Belleville Senators |date=July 7, 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2023}} He was named captain of the Belleville Senators on October 11, 2022.{{cite web |url=https://bellevillesens.com/belleville-sens-announce-dillon-heatherington-fifth-captain-club-history/ |title=Belleville Sens announce Dillon Heatherington as fifth captain in club history |publisher=Belleville Senators |date=October 11, 2022 |access-date=October 20, 2023}} During the 2022–23 season he was recalled on December 7, 2022 after Artyom Zub and Jacob Bernard-Docker missed time due to injury. He played in one game before being returned to Belleville. He was recalled again on December 27{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/?sn-article=senators-recall-d-heatherington-f-lucchini-from-belleville |title=Senators recall D Heatherington, F Lucchini from Belleville |work=Sportsnet |date=December 27, 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2023}} and then in the new year on February 19, 2023.{{cite web |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/tim-stutzle-extends-point-streak-to-power-senators-past-blues-7-2-1.6280528?cache=ahqqexyvsa%3FclipId%3D1921747 |title=Tim Stutzle extends point streak to power Senators past Blues 7-2 |work=CTV News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=February 19, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}

Heatherington attended Ottawa's 2023 training camp, but failed to make the team. He was placed on waivers{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/senators-dillon-heatherington-lands-on-waivers-506123/ |title=Senators' Dillon Heatherington: Lands on waivers |work=CBS Sports |date=September 29, 2023 |access-date=October 20, 2023}} and after going unclaimed, was assigned to Belleville to start the 2023–24 season.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/news/cutdown-day-senators-place-2019-first-rounder-lassi-thomson-on-waivers |title=Cutdown Day: Senators Place 2019 First-Rounder Lassi Thomson on Waivers |last=Warne |first=Steve |work=The Hockey News |date=September 30, 2023 |access-date=October 20, 2023}}

Following three seasons within the Senators organization, Heatherington left to sign as a free agent to a one-year AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls, primary affiliate to the Anaheim Ducks, on July 2, 2024.{{cite web | url = https://theahl.com/gulls-ink-four-to-ahl-contracts | title = Gulls ink four to AHL contracts | publisher = American Hockey League | date = July 2, 2024 | access-date = July 2, 2024 | archive-date = July 3, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240703001043/https://theahl.com/gulls-ink-four-to-ahl-contracts | url-status = dead }}

International play

{{MedalCountry | {{ih18|CAN}} }}

Heatherington played with Team Canada{{cite web |url=http://www.prairiepost.com/sports/broncos-hockey/item/4018-heatherington-earns-long-overdue-recognition.html |title=Heatherington earns long overdue recognition |work=Prairie Post |date=2013-02-02 |access-date=2013-02-02 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729002324/http://www.prairiepost.com/sports/broncos-hockey/item/4018-heatherington-earns-long-overdue-recognition.html |url-status=dead }} at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, winning a gold medal.{{cite web |url=http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/06/02/dillon-heatherington-2013-nhl-draft-player-profile-51/ |title=Dillon Heatherington: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile #51 |work=Last Word On Sports |last=Kerr |first=Ben |date=2013-06-02 |access-date=2013-06-02}} He was selected to play for Team Canada's junior team at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship and won the gold medal in a close 5–4 win over Russia.{{cite web |url=https://swiftcurrentonline.com/articles/heatherington-credits-family-atmosphere-for-world-junior-gold |title=Heatherington credits family atmosphere for World Junior gold |work=SwiftCurrentOnline |date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=October 17, 2024}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
2010–11 \| Calgary Flames Midget \| AMHL \| 31	0	11	11	44 \| 4	0	0	0	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| Swift Current Broncos \| WHL \| 1	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2011–12 \| Swift Current Broncos \| WHL \| 57	2	8	10	63 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13 \| Swift Current Broncos \| WHL \| 71	4	23	27	80 \| 5	0	3	3	0
2013–14 \| Swift Current Broncos \| WHL \| 70	6	29	35	63 \| 6	0	1	1	8
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15 \| Swift Current Broncos \| WHL \| 48	1	14	15	48 \| 4	0	0	0	4
2014–15 \| Springfield Falcons \| AHL \| 3	0	1	1	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2015–16 \| Lake Erie Monsters \| AHL \| 63	3	16	19	50 \| 15	0	3	3	6
2016–17 \| Cleveland Monsters \| AHL \| 38	1	5	6	30 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2016–17 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 22	2	6	8	21 \| —	—	—	—	—
2017–18 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 55	3	14	17	47 \| 21	0	3	3	18
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2017–18 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 6	0	1	1	26 \| —	—	—	—	—
2018–19 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 73	2	22	24	75 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2018–19 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 5	0	1	1	0 \| 1	0	0	0	0
2019–20 \| Texas Stars \| AHL \| 59	2	12	14	55 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2020–21 \| Barys Nur-Sultan \| KHL \| 41	2	5	7	40 \| 6	0	0	0	2
2021–22 \| Belleville Senators \| AHL \| 45	2	11	13	22 \| 2	1	0	1	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2021–22 \| Ottawa Senators \| NHL \| 9	0	0	0	7 \| —	—	—	—	—
2022–23 \| Belleville Senators \| AHL \| 60	4	11	15	63 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2022–23 \| Ottawa Senators \| NHL \| 3	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2023–24 \| Belleville Senators \| AHL \| 60	3	7	10	31 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2024–25 \| San Diego Gulls \| AHL \| 59	1	6	7	43 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 23 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 33 ! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| KHL totals ! 41 !! 2 !! 5 !! 7 !! 40 ! 6 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

ALIGN="center"

| 2013

| Canada

| U18

| {{gold1}}

| 7

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015

| Canada

| WJC

| {{gold1}}

| 7

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 14

! 1

! 0

! 1

! 6

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"

! Awards

! Year

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | AHL

Calder Cup (Lake Erie Monsters)

| 2016

| {{cite web | url = http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=885753 | title = Bjorkstrand's OT goal clinches Monsters' first-ever Calder Cup championship | publisher = Columbus Blue Jackets | first = Tony | last = Brown | date = June 12, 2016 | accessdate = June 12, 2016}}

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | International

IIHF World U18 Championships Gold Medal

| 2013

| {{cite web| url = http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/canada-wins-u18-worlds-gold-medal | title = Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team wins gold medal at 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship | publisher = Hockey Canada | date = 2013-06-02 | accessdate = 2013-06-02}}

IIHF World U20 Championships Gold Medal

| 2015