Geraldine Heaney

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Geraldine Heaney
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2013
Born (1967-10-01) October 1, 1967 (age 56)
Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 140 lb (64 kg; 10 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Toronto Aeros
National team  Canada
Playing career 1990–2003
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Women's ice hockey
Olympic games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City Tournament
Silver medal – second place 1998 Nagano Tournament
IIHF World Women's Championships
Gold medal – first place 1990 Canada Tournament
Gold medal – first place 1992 Finland Tournament
Gold medal – first place 1994 United States Tournament
Gold medal – first place 1997 Canada Tournament
Gold medal – first place 1999 Finland Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2000 Canada Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2001 United States Tournament

Geraldine Heaney (born October 1, 1967) is an Irish-Canadian ice hockey coach and former defenceman. She played 18 seasons and over 1,000 games with the Toronto Aeros organization, won six Ontario provincial championships and was named Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) most valuable defenceman on three occasions. The Aeros retired her jersey number 91 in 2006. Internationally, Heaney was a member of the Canadian national team in the first seven Women's World Championships, winning gold each time. She is a two-time Olympian, winning silver at the inaugural tournament in 1998 tournament, and gold in 2002. On June 14, 2022, she became the head coach of the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation.[1]

A pioneer of women's hockey, Heaney is credited with aiding the growth of the sport. Her offensive prowess as a defenceman earned her comparisons to National Hockey League star Bobby Orr, particularly after she flew through the air after scoring the gold medal-winning goal in the inaugural world championship. In 2008, Heaney became one of the first three female inductees, along with Angela James and Cammi Granato, to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame. She was the third woman, after James and Granato, to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Early life[edit]

Heaney was born on October 1, 1967, in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.[2] Her parents, Mike and Kathleen Heaney, emigrated to Canada when Geraldine was one year old, but she retained pride in her Irish birth, often returning to Ulster.[3] Her family settled in North York, Ontario, where she grew up and developed her passion for hockey, often playing goal for her brothers on outdoor rinks.[4] A gifted athlete, Heaney also played Gaelic football, soccer, fastball and in-line hockey.[5]

Playing career[edit]

Toronto Aeros[edit]

Heaney first joined a girls' hockey team at age 10, playing against girls up to six years older than her.[6] She joined the Toronto Aeros in 1980 at the age of 13. It began a career with the organization in which she played over 1,000 games at the senior level and later the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).[7] She was a member of six provincial championship winning teams and named the Ontario Women's Hockey Association's top defenceman on three occasions: 1987–88, 1991–92 and 1992–93.[7]

While studying recreation facilities management at Seneca College in Toronto, Heaney was recruited to play volleyball, but immediately switched to hockey upon learning the school operated a women's team.[6] In 1987, she led Seneca to an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championship and was named to both her league and the provincial championship all-star teams.[8]

Heaney was a member of four national championship teams with the Aeros.[6] The only player to appear in the Esso Women's National Hockey Championship every season between 1987 and 2001, Heaney was named the best defender of the tournament in 1993, 1997 and 2001 and was named most valuable player in 1992.[7] Three months pregnant with her first child, Heaney ended her club career in 2004 by scoring the overtime-winning goal to capture the national championship.[6] In recognition of her 27-year playing career, the Aeros retired her uniform number 91 in 2006.[4]

International[edit]

The first International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) sanctioned Women's World Championship was played in 1990, in Ottawa.[9] Heaney was selected for Team Canada, but as she was a landed immigrant, she had to rush the process of gaining citizenship before she could play.[10] Canada and the United States were the class of the tournament and met in the final.[9] Heaney scored the gold medal-winning goal in dramatic fashion as she deked around two American defencemen before sliding the puck into the net as she tripped over the goaltender and flew through the air in a fashion reminiscent of Bobby Orr's Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1969.[5] The goal, coupled with her skills as an offensive defenceman led to Heaney becoming known as the "Bobby Orr of women's hockey".[4]

The 1990 tournament marked the first of seven consecutive gold medal victories for Heaney, and she was the only player to appear in the first seven World Championships for Canada.[6] She received the Directorate Award as the tournament's best defenceman at the 1992 and 1994 tournaments,[11] and was named a tournament all-star in 1992.[12]

Women's hockey was added as a full-medal sport for the first time at the 1998 Nagano Games, and Heaney was named to the Canadian Olympic team.[13] While Canada had won every World Championship to that point, defeating the United States in the final each time, the Americans had begun to defeat Canada at other tournaments.[14] Heaney scored two goals and added four assists in six games;[2] however Canada lost the final to the United States, 3–1, and settled for the silver medal.[15]

Heaney planned on the 2002 Salt Lake Games being her final tournament.[10] She ended her international career with an Olympic gold medal after Canada defeated the United States 3–2 in the final.[16] The final was controversial as the American referee called 13 of the final 16 penalties in the game against Canada. Heaney described the feeling of the Canadian players following the game: "We got an unbelievable number of penalties. We never had any idea that could happen. [The officials] tried to give them the game, and we weren't going to let that happen."[17] In addition to celebrations in Canada, Heaney was recognized as a sporting hero in Northern Ireland.[10]

Heaney also played in two World Ball Hockey Championships. She won a gold medal in 1992 and silver in 1994.[6]

Coaching[edit]

Heaney turned to coaching and spent six seasons as coach of the University of Waterloo Warriors women's hockey team,[18] though the program often struggled as it lacked the resources compared to larger university programs.[19] Heaney left Waterloo in 2012 to coach her daughter's novice team.[18]

On June 14, 2022, Heaney was hired by the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation as the team's third head coach in franchise history.[20]

Legacy[edit]

An offensive defenceman, Heaney appeared in 125 games with the Canadian National Team, scored 27 goals and recorded 66 assists. In World Championship play, she holds Canadian records for most games (35), goals (8), assists (28) and points (36) for a defenceman.[18] A pioneer of modern women's hockey,[4] Heaney has been recognized by numerous institutions. She has been inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association and Canadian Ball Hockey Halls of Fame.[6]

In 2008, Heaney joined countrywoman Angela James and American Cammi Granato as the first women inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.[21][22] Proud of her induction, Heaney saw it as a sign of worldwide recognition of women's hockey, and added: "There are so many young girls playing hockey now, it's amazing. I really feel we need to promote the game worldwide, not just in Canada, and inducting women now should help that."[23] Five years later, Heaney became the third woman (following James and Granato in 2010) to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of its 2013 class.[18] She was scheduled to be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as part of its 2014 class.[24]

Personal[edit]

Heaney settled in Ancaster, Ontario, following her playing career where she and her husband John are raising their two children, Shannon and Patrick.[19]

International statistics[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1990 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 2 6 8 4
1992 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 6 6 2
1994 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1 6 7 8
1996 Canada PRC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 2 3 5 0
1997 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1 4 5 0
1997 Canada 3NC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 0 2 2 6
1997–98 Canada Exh. — 19 6 10 16 18
1998 Canada Oly 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 2 4 6 2
1998 Canada 3NC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 0 0 0 2
1998–99 Canada Exh. — 7 1 1 2 0
1999 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 3 0 3 4
1999–00 Canada Exh. — 4 1 5 6 2
2000 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 4
2000 Canada 4NC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 3 1 4 4
2000–01 Canada Exh. — 9 0 6 6 0
2001 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1 5 6 0
2001 Canada 3NC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 0 1 1 0
2002 Canada Oly 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 2 2 0
Totals 125 27 66 93 62

Awards and honours[edit]

Award Year
National
Most Valuable Player, Women's Nationals 1992 [25]
Best defender, Women's Nationals 1993
1997
2001 		[7]
International
Best Defenceman, IIHF World Championship 1992
1994 		[11]
All-Star Team, IIHF World Championship 1992 [12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "HOCKEY HALL OF FAMER GERALDINE HEANEY APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF THE TORONTO SIX". Toronto Six. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b Podnieks, Andrew (2009). Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010. Toronto, ON: Fenn Publishing Company, Ltd. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
  3. ^ Regan, Claire (22 February 2002). "Ulster gold at winter Olympics". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013 – via Highbeam.
  4. ^ a b c d Lankhof, Bill (22 February 2006). "Heaney deserving of honour". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b MacKinnon, John (9 July 2013). "Geraldine Heaney deserves Hockey Hall of Fame induction; was superstar in women's game". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Nelson, Norm (21 July 2013). "Emery Collegiate and Seneca College grad Geraldine Heaney to enter Hockey Hall of Fame". North York Mirror. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d "Induction showcase – Geraldine Heaney". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Seneca graduate headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame". Seneca College. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  9. ^ a b "IIHF starts the World Women's Championship". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  10. ^ a b c Ringland, Nigel (4 March 2002). "A golden return for hero Heaney". The Mirror. London.[dead link]
  11. ^ a b Podnieks, Andrew, ed. (2011). IIHF Guide & Record Book 2012. International Ice Hockey Federation. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
  12. ^ a b Podnieks, Andrew, ed. (2011). IIHF Guide & Record Book 2012. International Ice Hockey Federation. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
  13. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2009). Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010. Toronto: Fenn Publishing. p. 182. ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
  14. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2009). Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010. Toronto: Fenn Publishing. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
  15. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2009). Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010. Toronto: Fenn Publishing. p. 189. ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
  16. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2009). Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010. Toronto: Fenn Publishing. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-55168-323-2.
  17. ^ Burris, Joe (22 February 2002). "Canada shocks U.S. to win gold". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013 – via Highbeam.
  18. ^ a b c d Spencer, Donna (9 July 2013). "Geraldine Heaney joins female hockey pioneers in Hockey Hall of Fame". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, ON. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  19. ^ a b Rivet, Christine (3 May 2011). "Hockey mom Heaney departs UW Warriors". The Record. Kitchener, ON. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  20. ^ "HOCKEY HALL OF FAMER GERALDINE HEANEY APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF THE TORONTO SIX". Toronto Six. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  21. ^ "First women players inducted to IIHF Hall of Fame". CBC Sports. Toronto, Ontario. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  22. ^ Beacon, Bill (15 May 2008). "Heaney, James, Granato inducted as first women in IIHF Hall of Fame". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Granato, Heaney, James first women inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame". Associated Press. 16 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  24. ^ "Sarah Burke among Canada's Sports Hall of Fame inductees". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  25. ^ Ferguson, Bob (2005). Who's Who in Canadian Sport, Volume 4. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry and Whiteside Ltd. p. 192. ISBN 1-55041-855-6.
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