Craig Heisinger
Encyclopedia
Craig Heisinger is a Canadian ice hockey
executive. He is the assistant general manager and director of hockey operations for the Winnipeg Jets
of the National Hockey League
and senior vice president of True North Sports and Entertainment. Heisinger is also the general manager of the St. John's IceCaps
, the American Hockey League
affiliate of the Jets.
(MJHL) in 1978–79. After two season with the Blues, he spent four years (1980–1984) with the Winnipeg Warriors
of the Western Hockey League
(WHL) and another four years (1984–1988) with the Brandon Wheat Kings
, also of the WHL.
in 1996. Heisinger, who had a young family at the time, decided not to move with the team. Instead, he was accepted an offer to be the equipment manager for Winnipeg's new International Hockey League team, the Manitoba Moose
. Heisinger served as the equipment manager of the Moose for three seasons.
at the World Junior Hockey Championship
in Moscow
, where Canada won the gold medal. In 1997, he was a member of Team Canada's training staff at the World Ice Hockey Championships, where Canada also won gold. In his most prominent international role, he was selected as the Equipment Manager for Canada's men's ice hockey team at the 1998 Winters Olympics
in Nagano, Japan, the first Olympics in which NHL players were allowed to compete.
. On July 15, 2002, Heisinger was promoted to general manager when Carlyle left to join the coaching staff of the Washington Capitals
. Heisinger spent nine seasons as general manager of the Moose, the longest tenure of any Moose general manager. He was also named senior vice president after True North Sports and Entertainment (TNSE) acquired the team in 2003.
With Heisinger as general manager, the Moose made the playoffs eight of nine seasons. In 2008-09, the Moose had their best season in franchise history, winning 50 games and finishing first overall in the regular season. The team went all the way to Calder Cup
finals, but lost to the Hershey Bears
in six games. Heisinger was named the winner of the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
as the most outstanding executive in the AHL that season.
In May 2011, TNSE purchased the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers
and relocated them to Winnipeg less than a month later, renaming them the Winnipeg Jets. Heisinger was named the director of hockey operations and assistant general manager of the new Jets on June 8, 2011, working under new general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff
. He continues to hold the titles of senior vice-president for TNSE and general manager of its AHL team, which was relocated and rechristened as the St. John's IceCaps
in June 2011.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
executive. He is the assistant general manager and director of hockey operations for the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and senior vice president of True North Sports and Entertainment. Heisinger is also the general manager of the St. John's IceCaps
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .From...
, the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate of the Jets.
Junior hockey
Heisinger began his career in hockey as the equipment manager of the Fort Garry South Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey LeagueManitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League ....
(MJHL) in 1978–79. After two season with the Blues, he spent four years (1980–1984) with the Winnipeg Warriors
Winnipeg Warriors
The Winnipeg Warriors were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League. They were founded as an expansion team in 1980, but suffered from attendance problems competing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and ultimately moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1984,...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL) and another four years (1984–1988) with the Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the...
, also of the WHL.
Professional hockey
Heisinger made the jump to the NHL when he joined the Winnipeg Jets as assistant equipment manager. Two years later, he was promoted to equipment manager and served in that capacity until the Jets left for Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
in 1996. Heisinger, who had a young family at the time, decided not to move with the team. Instead, he was accepted an offer to be the equipment manager for Winnipeg's new International Hockey League team, the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
. Heisinger served as the equipment manager of the Moose for three seasons.
International
Heisinger's first international stint came in 1988, when he served as a trainer for Team CanadaCanada national junior hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January...
at the World Junior Hockey Championship
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where Canada won the gold medal. In 1997, he was a member of Team Canada's training staff at the World Ice Hockey Championships, where Canada also won gold. In his most prominent international role, he was selected as the Equipment Manager for Canada's men's ice hockey team at the 1998 Winters Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
in Nagano, Japan, the first Olympics in which NHL players were allowed to compete.
Executive career
In 1999, after three seasons as equipment manager, the Moose promoted Heisinger to assistant general manager under Randy CarlyleRandy Carlyle
Randolph Robert Carlyle is a former ice hockey defenceman and formely the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. He was raised in Azilda, just northwest of Sudbury, Ontario.-Career:...
. On July 15, 2002, Heisinger was promoted to general manager when Carlyle left to join the coaching staff of the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. Heisinger spent nine seasons as general manager of the Moose, the longest tenure of any Moose general manager. He was also named senior vice president after True North Sports and Entertainment (TNSE) acquired the team in 2003.
With Heisinger as general manager, the Moose made the playoffs eight of nine seasons. In 2008-09, the Moose had their best season in franchise history, winning 50 games and finishing first overall in the regular season. The team went all the way to Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
finals, but lost to the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
in six games. Heisinger was named the winner of the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
James C. Hendy Memorial Award
The James C. Hendy Memorial Award is presented annually to an executive who has made the most outstanding contribution to the American Hockey League....
as the most outstanding executive in the AHL that season.
In May 2011, TNSE purchased the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
and relocated them to Winnipeg less than a month later, renaming them the Winnipeg Jets. Heisinger was named the director of hockey operations and assistant general manager of the new Jets on June 8, 2011, working under new general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff
Kevin Cheveldayoff
Kevin Cheveldayoff is a former professional ice hockey defenceman and currently the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
. He continues to hold the titles of senior vice-president for TNSE and general manager of its AHL team, which was relocated and rechristened as the St. John's IceCaps
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .From...
in June 2011.