Blind River inks Nate Headrick
Garden River First Nation product Nate Headrick is poised to make his Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League debut as a free agent signing of the Blind River Beavers, Hockey News North has confirmed.
A 6-foot-3, 200 pound, 19-year old defenseman, Headrick had been skating with members of the Beavers on outdoor rinks in recent weeks.
He hasn’t played organized hockey in almost two years, last suiting up for the St. Mary’s Knights high school team in Sault Ste. Marie. Before that, Headrick was a good, solid defenseman for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
In signing with Blind River, Beavers general manager and coach Kyle Brick told Hockey News North that “we are happy to be able to add Nate to our blue line … he’s been working hard to get back up to game speed. He will bring some size and definite toughness to our hockey team. He is the type of player you want on a playoff run.”
Nate — who was also a high school football standout while at St. Mary’s — is the middle child of Anne Headrick and Dave Headrick in a hockey playing family that includes older brother Owen, older sister Jana, younger sister Mya and younger brother Evan.
Owen recently signed a pro contract with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, Jana stars for the University of New Brunswick, Mya is playing in Etobicoke and has a future commitment to Bemidji State University and Evan is developing at the under 14 level in Oakville.
As for Nate, he joins a Blind River team that is in third place in the West Division of the NOJHL with 30 points from a record of 14-9-2 with regular season play set to resume this week.
PHOTO: Nate Headrick, while playing high school hockey for the St. Mary’s Knights.