MOLINE, Ill. (February 3, 2014) - - Quad City Mallards goaltender Thomas Heemskerk has joined the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat on a professional tryout agreement, the Mallards announced today.
Heemskerk, 23, leads the Central Hockey League in goals against average (2.36) and save percentage (.923) and is tied for third in shutouts (2). The 6' 0", 210-pound Chilliwack, British Columbia native has suffered just one regulation loss this season, going 10-1-4 in 15 games. Heemskerk is unbeaten in regulation in his last six games, a stretch during which he has posted a 5-0-1 record, a 1.48 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and two shutouts.
This is Heemskerk's fourth AHL call-up this season. The third year netminder returned to the Mallards a week ago after 12 days with the Worcester Sharks during which he did not see any gave action. He joined the Iowa Wild for a pair of stints as a back-up earlier in the campaign.
Heemskerk played for Worcester each of the last two seasons. Over two games last year with the San Jose Sharks' top affiliate, Heemskerk turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced in 67 minutes, turning in a 1.79 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. In four games with Worcester in 2011-12, he went 0-1-0 with a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.
Heemskerk spent the bulk of his first two campaigns in the ECHL. Last year he went 14-17-3 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 38 games with the San Francisco Bulls. Heemskerk began his professional career in 2011-12 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a record of 13-12-0 along with a 3.27 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 25 games.
Heemskerk turned pro after four years in the major junior Western Hockey League. In his final WHL season, 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 next play at home Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Allen Americans. That game is a Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's. If the Mallards win Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' next Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's. After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.
Tickets for Wednesday 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.
