07/20/2026
Being traded across the country at 19 wasn’t easy, but Heather made it feel like home from the moment I arrived. It was so much more than her incredible homemade cooking that left an impact on my time there - and ultimately on my career.
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It was the way she constantly checked in to make sure we were doing okay, knowing we were so far from home. It was the way she’d sit with us while we played video games, simply so we wouldn’t feel alone. I’ll never forget her checking in on me - with tears in her eyes - when my roommate got traded. She was there through every transition and every curveball that life in the WHL threw our way.
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At the end of the day, it’s the relationships that matter most. Heather and her family played a pivotal role in shaping not only the person I became, but also the path my career took. They opened their home not just to the players, but to our parents, siblings, girlfriends, and families whenever they came to visit. They had a way of making everyone feel like they belonged.
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Heather is a reminder that, in this crazy hockey life, you’ll remember the people far more than the games themselves. The Vancouver Giants were incredibly fortunate to have her as part of their organization and hockey family. She helped shape countless young men during some of the most important years of their lives, and the kindness, love, and support she showed each of us is something many of us have carried forward into our own families.
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I was fortunate to have incredible billet families throughout my junior career, many of whom I still keep in touch with today. Those relationships have lasted far longer than any game ever could, and I’ll always be grateful for the people who made being away from home feel a little easier.
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Rest easy, Heather. Thank you for making so many of us feel at home when we needed it most 🤍
