(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush announced today that rookie defenseman Blake Heinrich has signed with the Rush for the upcoming 2018-19 ECHL season, marking the start of his professional hockey career.
Heinrich comes to the Rush after spending the last two seasons at the University of Manitoba in USports with now current teammate Quintin Lisoway. The 5’11”, 205-pound blue-liner suited up in 39 games in the Canadian college ranks, and earned 11 points (5g-6ast).
“It’s crazy to think I’ll be a professional hockey player in October. I’ve heard so many great things about Rapid City. I have some old friends that used to play here, and they caught me up to speed and helped me realize what a great situation I’m coming into for my first year pro,” Heinrich said of his signing. “Simply put, I’m a two-way defenseman. I play hard and like taking the body, but I can also chip in offensively. Talking to Coach Tetrault, the playing style we’ll have come October is exactly me as a player right down to a t. I can’t wait to get started in two months.”
“Similar to his former college teammate, Quintin Lisoway, who we announced earlier this week, Blake is a leader and a 200-foot hockey player,” Rush Head Coach Daniel Tetrault remarked on his rookie defenseman. “Coming from the WHL, I know Blake takes care of his own zone on the back-end, but exercises great hockey sense on when to join in offensively. Blake brings a great skill-set, a ton of youth, and a wealth of enthusiasm to this team, and I can’t wait to see what he’s made of in Training Camp.”
Before heading to college, Heinrich, a native of Cambridge, Minnesota, played two seasons each in the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers (85gp, 10g-27ast-37pts) and in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks (132gp, 15g-38ast-53pts). In 2013, Heinrich was named to the USHL/NHL Top Prospects game, and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 2013 NHL Draft (5th Rd-#144).
For more information on season ticket packages for our 11th season of hockey in the Black Hills, call the Rush office at 716-7825.
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