MASON CITY, Iowa – In the North Iowa Bulls’ quest to remain at the top of the junior hockey scene, the team is set to bring in a top-flight blueliner from one of the nation’s top prep hockey programs. The Bulls are excited to announce the signing of Shattuck-St. Mary’s defenseman Christian Heckman to a North American Hockey League tender agreement, locking him in at least through the start of next season.
Heckman has steadily risen up the ranks of the Sabres’ program during his four years at the school in Faribault, Minnesota. This is his first full season on the school’s prep roster, tallying 21 points in 44 appearances after playing two games with the prep team last season. He notched 19 points in 27 games on Shattuck’s AAA team in 2020-21, and played six games in North American Prospects Hockey League competition as well. Heckman also played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s in the NAPHL in 2019-20, with 25 of his 52 games and eight of his 25 points coming in NAPHL play.
The Cleveland, Ohio native has his Shattuck-St. Mary’s team on track for another memorable season, sitting at 39-3-3 going into a weekend series at St. Aurora College in Ontario, Canada. The Sabres were frequent exhibition opponents for the Bulls during North Iowa’s stint in the North American 3 Hockey League, and recently continued the series with a home game against the Mason City Toros in Faribault.
As part of Heckman’s tender signing, his NAHL playing rights belong to the Bulls, and he is no longer eligible to be selected in the 2022 NAHL Draft this coming summer. He becomes the fourth player with NAPHL experience to sign an NAHL tender with the Bulls this season.
The North Iowa Bulls congratulate Christian Heckman on his tender signing and wish him further success as his 2021-22 season continues.