The ECHL on Thursday announced its 2023 Hall of Fame class, and former Penguins equipment manager Dana Heinze is among the inductees.
Heinze, who retired this past summer after 33 seasons as an equipment manager, got his start in professional hockey with the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs in 1988.
Heinze was the first ECHL equipment manager to make it to the NHL when he did so with the Devils in the 1992-93 season. Heinze went on to win four Stanley Cups in his career -- one with the Lightning as an assistant in 2004, then three with the Penguins as head equipment manager in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
The Penguins recently honored Heinze in a ceremony last month before a game with the Lightning, recognizing Heinze for his 16 seasons in the organization and presenting him with a number of gifts. Before that game I asked Mike Sullivan -- who was around for seven of those 16 seasons with Heinze -- what Heinze meant to the team during his time here.
"I know our players, our coaching staff have so much respect for Dana and the support that he gave to all of us," Sullivan said. "He certainly made our jobs a whole lot easier. I think sometimes the equipment staff is just an under-appreciated staff by most. I do think the players themselves and the coaching staff appreciate everything that they do for us. They work extremely hard. And I think Dana exemplified that for as long as he did when he was the equipment trainer here in Pittsburgh."
Other members of the ECHL's 2023 Hall of Fame class include former goaltender Mark Bernard, forward Scott Bertoli, and forward Victor Gervais.
“This 15th anniversary class of the ECHL Hall of Fame pays homage to a group that helped build the foundation for the League in its early years and provide the structure to become the developmental league to the National Hockey League and American Hockey League,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “It is going to be a special occasion as we return to Norfolk to honor our history in the region through this event.”
The Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held on Monday, Jan. 16 at the Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, Va. as part of the ECHL All-Star Classic events. Tickets can be purchased here.
