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Mallards' Heemskerk Named Oakley Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Week

January 7, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (January 7, 2014) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Thomas Heemskerk has been named Oakley Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Week, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Heemskerk, 23, last week turned aside 60 of the 62 shots he faced while securing a pair of road wins and recording his second shutout of the season. The Chilliwack, British Columbia native last Monday made 31 saves to backstop the Mallards to a 3-2 win over the Brampton Beast. Last Saturday, Heemskerk stopped 29 shots in a 5-0 blanking of the St. Charles Chill. The shutout was Heemskerk's second in his last four games, his second in his last two starts against St. Charles and the second of his career.

The 6' 0", 210-pound Heemskerk is currently riding a four game winning streak during which he has registered a 1.50 goals against average and a .947 save percentage along with two shutouts.

On the season, Heemskerk ranks second in the CHL in goals against average (2.50), is tied for second in shutouts (2), ranks fourth in save percentage (.919) and ranks seventh in wins (9). He has suffered just a single regulation loss all season, going 9-1-3 over 14 games. Heemskerk has also been called up to the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild twice this season.

Heemskerk is the second Mallard goaltender to earn league wide honors in as many weeks. Fellow netminder Ty Rimmer last week was named CHL Rookie of the Month for December.

Heemskerk joined the Mallards after going 14-17-3 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 38 games with the ECHL's San Francisco Bulls last season. Heemskirk also played in a pair of games for the Worcester Sharks of the AHL last year.Heemskerk gave up just two goals while making 27 saves to post a 1.79 goals against average and a .931 save percentage during that AHL stint.

Heemskerk began his professional career in 2011-12 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he turned in a record of 13-12-0 along with a 3.27 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 25 games. He also saw AHL action for Worcester as a rookie, taking the ice in four games and registering a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Heemskerk turned pro after four years in the major junior Western Hockey League. In his final WHL campaign, he finished second in the league in minutes (3,841), third in saves (2041) and fifth in wins (36) while recording a 2.94 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in 65 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The 2010-11 season was the second straight campaign during which Heemskerk landed among the league leaders. In 2009-10, while tending goal for the Everett Silvertips, he topped the Western League in save percentage (.927), finished third in goals against average (2.34) and was tied for seventh in shutouts (4) while going 24-12-4 in 42 games. Heemskerk's efforts helped the Silvertips earn a share of the United States Division title. Heemskerk joined Everett midway through the 2008-09 season after spending his first year and a half in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice.

The Mallards return to action on home ice tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. against the Brampton Beast. That game is the Mallards' first Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's. If the Mallards win a Wednesday night home game all in attendance win free tickets for the next Wednesday game. In addition, $2 beer and hot dogs will be available during Wednesday night tilts. After each Wednesday night game, fans can join the Mallards for a postgame party at T.G.I. Friday's next to the iWireless Center.

Tickets for tomorrow night's game and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

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