Whirlwind season sees Heidt light up SMAAAHL, make jump to WHL

When the 2020-21 SMAAAHL season was cut short on Nov. 25, Riley Heidt was stuck in limbo. 

After just six games with the Contacts, in which he registered three goals and seven assists, Heidt was unsure of when he’d be back in game action.

But when the British Columbia government permitted the Western Hockey League to resume operations in a bubble format, Heidt, who was the second-overall pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, got his chance to make his major junior debut earlier than initially expected. 

“Honestly, it probably couldn't have worked out better for me. It sucked for a lot of people, but for me to get the opportunity to go out there as a 15-year-old, that’s something I’ll never forget,” said Heidt. 

“Obviously it was a good learning experience and I made sure to take everything in and it’ll help me a lot in my 16-year old year just going in there having some games under my belt.”

Heidt made the most of the opportunity, registering two goals and six assists in 22 games with the Cougars and in the process recording the WHL’s ninth-best points-per-game in their 15-year-old season among players with at least 20 games played.

The Saskatoon product displayed his high-end talent in the bubble with a pair of highlight reel goals, including his first in the WHL which came just four days after his 16th birthday.

https://twitter.com/saskcontacts/status/1376753542015295496

Heidt was one of several Contacts to make his WHL debut this season, including his former linemate in Brayden Yager, who tallied 18 points in 24 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors. 

“It was awesome. It was good seeing those guys in different divisions, and obviously lighting it up,” said Heidt. “It was weird not playing with them this year, but we talk quite a bit and it was awesome to see each other do well.”

While Heidt enjoyed seeing his former teammates, dually unique was the opportunity to play against fellow former Contacts alumnus and Kamloops Blazer Connor Zary, who Heidt noted was a player that stood out to him in his time in the bubble.

“I was up against him quite a bit,” said Heidt. “He’s very skilled obviously, and a very good hockey player, so trying to shut him down in the d-zone and trying to learn off him when I’m not playing.”

And while he was happy to get the opportunity to make the jump to the next level, part of Heidt is left wondering what could have been for a Contacts team that started out the season with a 5-1 record, outscoring opponents 28-7 in the process.

“I think that was something everybody had in mind. Obviously we were our a pretty special team. We were pretty young still, but we were very good,” said Heidt.

“It would have been awesome to see what we could have done and I know that's what all of us as well as Dale and Harley thought that was going to happen so it was too bad that it didn’t.”

As for what’s to come, Heidt is looking forward to getting down to Prince George for his first full WHL season, which will officially get underway on Oct. 2 in a clash against the Kamloops Blazers. 

“I think we'll be good. We're going to have a good young team this year again. I just want to take it one game at a time and do the best that I can and be the best player I can be, but I'll just take it slow and not worry too much about things and have fun.”