Heartlanders home Sunday to face K-Wings

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders and Kalamazoo Wings square off Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants Day, presented by Advance Auto Parts. Tickets are available by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets and by calling 319-569-4625.The game kicks off a busy stretch for Iowa; after enjoying the last eight days off, the Landers now play six games in the next 11 days and eight contests over the next 14. Iowa’s next game after Sunday is at Kalamazoo Nov. 23.The Landers won their last home game against Fort Wayne, 7-2, on Nov. 6. In that contest, Alec Broetzman, Mike Pastujov and Nick Campoli scored their first professional goals. Iowa had early momentum in each of the team's last two games, scoring the first goal at Kansas City (Nov. 11) and Wichita (Nov. 12).Last time out, Wichita came from behind with two goals in the final four minutes and then a Jake Wahlin strike at :16 of overtime to beat Iowa, 3-2, in the extra session. Kalamazoo last played Sunday, Nov. 13 and suffered a 2-1 home defeat vs. Indy. The K-Wings are four points ahead of the Landers for sixth in the Central Division.Promotion: Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants Day presented by Advance Auto Parts. Specialty jerseys (in-arena auction only), inclusive of postgame meet-and-greet with live in-arena silent auction. Portion of proceeds of jerseys benefit United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties. Wear SpongeBob Pajamas for chance to win in-arena activations and prizes.Broadcast Coverage: Watch on flohockey.tv. Listen on mixlr.com/goheartlanders  Are You Ready Kids? Heartlanders rookies Tommy Parrottino and Michael Pastujov continue to be key offensive drivers for the Heartlanders, each posting points in Iowa's last game at Wichita. Parrottino scored the opening goal at the Thunder and now three goals over his last six games and paces Iowa rookies in goals (3).Pastujov recorded primary assists on both Landers goals in Wichita. He has played four professional games and registered a multi-point contest in each, the first Heartlanders player ever to accomplish such a feat. Iowa acquired Pastujov from Idaho on Nov. 2 in exchange for future considerations (part of seven roster transactions, including three trades made by the Landers on Nov. 2).The 23-year-old Pastujov generated a career-NCAA-best 26 points in 42 games at Michigan last season (six multi-point games). Over five seasons in Ann Arbor, Pastujov had 13 multi-point efforts.Speaking to Iowa's youth, the team has 22 players on its active roster that have played fewer than 100 ECHL games. Only Kevin McKernan and C.J. Motte have played more than 100 in the Premier Double A Hockey League.Kalamazoo’s Krusty Krab Scouting ReportThe K-Wings are seeking their second straight road victory, last taking down the Toledo Walleye, 3-1, on Nov. 12. After allowing the game’s first goal, Tyler Irvine, Mason McCarty and Max Humitz scored three unanswered for the Wings and netminder Pavel Cajan blocked 30 shots for his first ECHL victory. At the start of this week, Cajan was one of seven ECHL players that was born in the year 2002 (Cajan was born Oct. 13, 2002).On the flip side of that youth, Matheson Iacopelli tops Kalamazoo with five goals, one of which came against Iowa in a 6-3 win Oct. 28. The fifth-year professional scored 21 goals last season.Veteran Justin Taylor is one goal away from matching a Wings team record 239 goals, a record held by Kevin Schamehorn and Mike Wanchuk. Taylor has played more games than any Kalamazoo player ever (623) and is in his 12th season playing for Kalamazoo. Taylor is third in Kalamazoo history with 460 career points, trailing Wanchuk (467) and Schamehorn (474).Upcoming home games and ticket information.The Heartlanders are set to begin a three-game home stand with Military Appreciation Night, presented by GreenState Credit Union vs. Cincinnati on Sat., Nov. 26 at 7:05 p.m. The Heartlanders host Cincinnati again on Sun., Nov. 27 at 2:05 p.m., with a special postgame skate presented by The Family Dental Center. On Wed., Nov. 30 at 7:05 p.m., Iowa hosts Kansas City in a game presented by Mercy Iowa City. View the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions.  Single-game tickets, group ticket options, partial plans and season ticket memberships are available for Heartlanders home games at Xtream Arena.  Call 319-569-GOAL or visit iowaheartlanders.com/tickets for more information.