• Spits Grad Heins Providing Valuable D In Switzerland

  Filed under Switzerland
  Sep 9
  Shawn Heins played two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, 1991-92 and 1992-93. Heins started his OHL career with the Peterborough Petes, playing 49 games in his first season. Five games into his second season, he ended up with the Windsor Spitfires where he finished out the season.

  Although not drafted, Shawn made his way into 125 NHL games over six seasons from 1998-99 to 2003-04. Heins played parts of five seasons with the San Jose Sharks and also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers. He also spent time with five minor league teams in the ECHL, AHL and IHL.

  Shawn left North America for Europe for the 2004-05 season and has not looked back. He spent his first two seasons in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). His first was with the Eisbaren Berlin and second with the Hannover Scorpions. Since 2006-07, he has been with Fribourg-Gotteron of Switzerland’s National League A, is current team captain and is under contract through the 2011-12 season.

  Seven times in his professional career, Heins has led his team in penalty minutes. He has led Fribourg-Gotteron in each of his four seasons with the club. He also led the Hannover Scorpions in 2005-06 with 196 PIM in just 43 games. In 1997-98, he led the Kansas City Blades of the IHL with 303 PIM in 82 games and in 1996-97, he led the Mobile Mysticks of the ECHL with 253 PIM in just 56 games. Twice, he has led the National League A in PIM, 2006-07 and 2008-09.

  Despite these numbers, Heins still remains a point producing defenseman and a quality player. He was an AHL first team all-star in 1999-00 with the Kentucky Thoroughblades when he produced 63 points from the blueline in 69 games. His 238 PIM would have led the team if it were not for teammate and fellow Ontario Hockey League grad Garrett Burnett who spent a whopping 506 minutes in the box in just 58 games. Shawn was also named to the all-star team at the most recent Spengler Cup.

  Check out the profile page of Shawn Heins at the Fribourg-Gotteron official website.

  In the following video, Shawn Heins comes to the aid of teammate and knocks out an opposing player in a playoff game this spring.
  Tagged as: fribourg-gotteron, Ontario Hockey League, peterborough petes, shawn heins, swiss-a, Switzerland, windsor spitfires
  
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