Mitchell Heard

Mitchell Heard (born March 12, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center currently under contract with the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Heard was drafted 41st overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.

Mitch Heard
Born (1992-03-12) March 12, 1992
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
DEL team
Former teams		 Straubing Tigers
Lake Erie Monsters
Stockton Heat
Charlotte Checkers
NHL Draft 41st overall, 2012
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2012–present

Playing career

Heard first played at the Junior A level for the Bowmanville Eagles in the Central Canadian Hockey League registering 30 points in 22 games and leading the Eagles in the post-season with 19 points in 22 games before joining the Plymouth Whalers midway into the 2009–10 season.

In his rookie campaign with the Whalers, Heard immediately established himself within the offensive lines in finishing fourth on the club with 48 points in 66 games. He increased his scoring to a point-per-game rate the following season to be selected with the Colorado Avalanche's first selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, 41st overall.

With a physically mature frame, Heard was later signed in the off-season on August 14, 2012, to a three-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[1] In the 2012–13 pre-season, Heard participated in his first Avalanche training camp and was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. Heard made his professional debut with the Monsters and used sparingly as a depth forward before he was later reassigned to his junior club, the Plymouth Whalers, mid-season on January 1, 2013.[2] In his return to the Whalers, Heard was leaned on offensively to finish with 36 points in 32 regular season games but was unable to advance the Whalers to the Conference finals.

In his first full professional season in 2013–14, Heard was in the familiar position of starting the year with the Monsters. Used primarily an checking-line agitator with the ability to fight, Heard finished fourth amongst the AHL in penalty minutes with 167 in 63 games.

Struggling to find his offensive game in the AHL, and in the last year of his entry-level deal with the Avalanche, Heard was reassigned to the Fort Wayne Komets during the 2014–15 season. He responded immediately to contribute with 10 goals and 16 points in just 12 games to earn the ECHL player of the week award in November.[3] He was returned to the Monsters for the remainder of the regular season to post consecutive 100 plus penalty minute seasons.[4] With the Monsters out of playoff contention, Heard was reassigned to the Komets Kelly Cup run. He contributed with 9 points in 10 games before falling to the Toledo Walleye in the Conference semi-finals.[5]

In the offseason, Heard was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Avalanche to be released to free agency. On July 15, 2015, Heard was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Stockton Heat.[6] After attending the Heat's training camp, Heard was reassigned to begin the 2015–16 season, with ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder. Over the course of the year, Heard split his time between the Thunder and Heat, appearing in 22 games for 7 points in the AHL.

As a free agent in the off-season, Heard continued his career in the AHL, securing a one-year deal with the Charlotte Checkers on August 11, 2016.[7] Heard would play two seasons within the Checkers organization, also playing on assignment with the Florida Everblades in the ECHL, leading the club in scoring to help reach the Kelly Cup finals against the Colorado Eagles in the 2017–18 season.

Heard opted for a move abroad following his fifth professional season, securing a one-year contract with German club, the Straubing Tigers of the DEL, on July 12, 2018.[8]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Bowmanville Eagles CCHL 2217133024 226131934
2009–10 Plymouth Whalers CCHL 162134 —————
2010–11 Plymouth Whalers OHL 6619294867 1112310
2011–12 Plymouth Whalers OHL 57292857111 13471126
2012–13 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 2313472 —————
2012–13 Plymouth Whalers OHL 3217193634 14851337
2013–14 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 634812167 —————
2014–15 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 516612137 —————
2014–15 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 121061615 1036922
2015–16 Adirondack Thunder ECHL 33122032114 12561139
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 2234771 —————
2016–17 Charlotte Checkers AHL 3604453 —————
2016–17 Florida Everblades ECHL 11671329 810149
2017–18 Florida Everblades ECHL 63254267153 209132239
2017–18 Charlotte Checkers AHL 40002 —————
2018–19 Straubing Tigers DEL 285111667 —————
2019–20 Straubing Tigers DEL 496243056 —————
AHL totals 199142539502 —————

References
  1. "Avalanche signs Heard". Colorado Avalanche. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  2. "Lake Erie Monsters transactions 2012-13". American Hockey League. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  3. "Heard named sherwood ECHL player of the Week". ECHL. 2014-11-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  4. Sebring, Blake (2014-11-21). "Heard has been recalled to Monsters". News-Sentinel. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
  5. "Heard excited about coming back to Komets". News-Sentinel. 2015-04-20. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  6. "Heat signs three to AHL deals". Stockton Heat. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  7. "Checkers sign Mitchell Heard to AHL contract". Charlotte Checkers. 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  8. "New Center for Straubing - Mitch Heard" (in German). Straubing Tigers. 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
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