Her offensive prowess as a defenceman earned her comparisons to National Hockey League star Bobby Orr, particularly after she flew through the air after scoring the gold medal-winning goal in the inaugural world championship.

In 2008, Heaney became one of the first three female inductees, along with Angela James and Cammi Granato, to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame.

[2] Her parents, Mike and Kathleen Heaney, emigrated to Canada when Geraldine was one year old, but she retained pride in her Irish birth, often returning to Ulster.

[3] Her family settled in North York, Ontario, where she grew up and developed her passion for hockey, often playing goal for her brothers on outdoor rinks.

[7] She was a member of six provincial championship winning teams and named the Ontario Women's Hockey Association's top defenceman on three occasions: 1987–88, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

[7] While studying recreation facilities management at Seneca College in Toronto, Heaney was recruited to play volleyball, but immediately switched to hockey upon learning the school operated a women's team.

[7] Three months pregnant with her first child, Heaney ended her club career in 2004 by scoring the overtime-winning goal to capture the national championship.

[12] Women's hockey was added as a full-medal sport for the first time at the 1998 Nagano Games, and Heaney was named to the Canadian Olympic team.

[14] Heaney scored two goals and added four assists in six games;[2] however Canada lost the final to the United States, 3–1, and settled for the silver medal.

[18] On June 14, 2022, Heaney was hired by the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation as the team's third head coach in franchise history.

[6] In 2008, Heaney joined countrywoman Angela James and American Cammi Granato as the first women inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.