Jeff Heerema

Jeff Heerema (born January 17, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL. He was drafted in the first round, 11th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to signing for the Nottingham club he most recently played for KHL Medveščak Zagreb in Croatia.

Playing career
After playing three full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sarnia Sting, Heerema made his professional debut with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the International Hockey League in the 2000–01 season. He made his National Hockey League debut in the 2002–03 season with the Hurricanes, appearing in ten games and scoring three goals. He moved on to the St. Louis Blues for the 2003–04 season, appearing in 22 games and scoring one goal.

Most recently, Heerema spent the entire 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL, tallying 141 points in 155 games. He signed in the 2007 off-season with German team the Frankfurt Lions of the DEL. After scoring 20 goals in 2007–08 with the Lions, Heerema was given a one-year extension to remain in Frankfurt.

A free agent to start the 2009–10 season, Heerema signed with Croatian based KHL Medveščak Zagreb of the Austrian Hockey League on 23 November 2009. Heerema established himself with the Bears scoring 24 points in 28 games before managing to score only 2 goals as KHL reached to semi-finals in the playoffs. On 13 August 2010, it was announced that Heerema was not offered a new contract to remain in Croatia. On 29 November 2010, it was announced that Heerema had signed for the Nottingham Panthers of the UK's Elite League.

He is a cousin of Eric Staal, Marc Staal, Jordan Staal and Jared Staal.