Women's hockey team adds familiar name

March 12, 2009

The NAIT Ooks women's hockey team will have a name familiar to Ooks hockey fans in its line-up next season. Teegan Heintz, the sister of former Ooks men's hockey standout Dustan Heintz, has committed to the Ooks for next season.

Dustan played two seasons for the Ooks from 2002-04, and led the Ooks in scoring in his first season with 47 points. He collected 75 points in 53 games during his stint with the Ooks and was named an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference second-team all-star.

It would seem that a scoring gene runs in the family as Teegan led the Prince Albert A&W Bears of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League in scoring this season. The native of Luseland, Saskatchewan scored 19 goals and nine assists for 28 points in 28 games in the regular season, and then ramped up her production in the playoffs scoring ten points in six games to lead the SFMAAAHL in postseason scoring.

The 5'9 forward, who turns 18 this month, has applied to the personal fitness trainer program at NAIT and is expected to challenge for a first line role on the team next year.

"Teegan is hard worker and a strong forechecker," said Ooks women's hockey team head coach Deanna Iwanicka, "she likes to be the first forward in, creating turnovers for offensive opportunities.

"I last saw her play in a tournament in December and she's since scored quite a few more points for her team. We believe that she'll put up some points on the board for us next year."

Terry Ballard, head coach of the Ook's men's hockey team, called Teegan's brother Dustan, whom he coached at NAIT, an "outstanding player and person".

Said Iwanicka of Teegan: "Her brother was an all-star for NAIT and given her talent level, I don't doubt she can do the same."