Former Jr. Blues goalie Heeter signs NHL deal
The NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers have signed their first collegiate in advance of spring. General Manager Paul Holmgren announced the club inked Ohio State University and former St. Louis Jr. Blues goalie Cal Heeter to a two-year contract beginning in 2012-13. The two-year deal is worth $1.85 million. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound native of St. Louis, Missouri catches left.
Heeter, who is 23, played in 32 games this season for the Buckeyes in the CCHA, compiling a 13-11-5 record with a 2.45 goals against average and .918 save percentage. In four years of collegiate play (77 games), he has five shutouts with a career record of 37-27-7 and a 2.54. GAA and .915 save percentage.
Heeter, who is a St. Louis native, played in the 3HL (then CSHL) during the 2005-06 season for the St. Louis Jr. Blues. During that season he compiled a 27-0-0 record with a 1.37 GAA and a .949 save % also recording 7 shutouts. Heeter backstopped St. Louis to a Junior B National Championship that season.
Heeter the continued to play two full seasons in the NAHL with two different teams, the Wichita Falls Wildcats and the St. Louis Bandits. Heeter appeared in 31 games with Wichita Falls during the 2006-07 season. A year later in 2007-08, he backstopped the St. Louis Bandits to the first of three straight Robertson Cup National titles. He was also named to the NAHL All-North Division team during the 2007-08 season.