Iowa starts second half of season Friday against Komets

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, oppose the Fort Wayne Komets Friday at 7:05 p.m., kicking off three straight days of hockey between the Central Division foes.Friday is the start of the second half of Iowa’s season. Currently sitting at seventh in the Central, Iowa will look to start a similar second-half burst as last season that included a franchise-record seven-game winning streak to pull above hockey .500 last March.Fort Wayne is nestled at sixth in the Central Division with 36 points, four behind Wheeling for then fourth and final Central Division playoff spot.Each team is looking to get out of losing slides; Iowa has dropped three straight in regulation at home and Fort Wayne is 0-2-1-0 in their last three contests.Tickets are available for all home games by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets. Find the full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotionsPromotion: Rose Friday with a matchup against the Komets presented by Paul Park Real Estate.Broadcast Coverage: Watch online at flohockey.tv. Listen on mixlr.com/goheartlanders.Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Fort Wayne Komets (Edmonton Oilers/Bakersfield Condors)Last Time OutThe Heartlanders attempted a season-best 45 shots on goal but Toledo Walleye goalie John Lethemon denied 44 and the Landers fell, 5-1, Sunday at Xtream Arena.The 45 shots were one better than Iowa had on Nov. 6 at home in a 7-2 win over Fort Wayne. It was the third-most the Landers have ever had in a game. The two highest-shooting games for Iowa came against Kansas City last season at Xtream Arena (Nov. 24, 2021, 51 shots | Jan. 14, 2022, 49 shots).Bo Hanson scored Iowa’s only goal, the first of his professional career. Conlan Keenan completed a hat trick with two goals in the third period and Brandon Hawkins scored Toledo’s other two goals. Leading scorer roundup Iowa has two players that lead the team with 20 points: James Sanchez and Michael Pastujov. Sanchez last scored Friday vs. Toledo, his sixth goal of the season. The second-year professional tops Iowa with 11 power-play points (3 PPG). Sanchez has 48 career points in 90 games combined between the AHL and ECHL (5 AHL points, 43 ECHL points).The rookie Pastujov started his career with points in his first five ECHL games, tied for the longest points streak of Iowa’s season.Season seriesThe Heartlanders and Komets have played once this season and it was Iowa’s first victory of the season, a 7-2 final Nov. 6.Cole Stallard registered his first ECHL hat trick, completing it at 16:59 of the second period. Iowa scored the final four goals of the game. Michael Pastujov had two points and tallied his first pro goal. Alec Broetzman and Nick Campoli also scored their first pro goals. Former Komets forward Tyler Busch generated three assists against his former team.Corbin Kaczperski won with 37 saves.Upcoming home games and ticket informationView the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions. Iowa is home for two more games against Fort Wayne on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, January 28 at 7:05 p.m., it’s D.C. Comics Night where the Heartlanders will wear specialty FLASH jerseys, plus Fight With Flash Night where a portion of proceeds raised from the specialty jersey auction will benefit the Fight With Flash Foundation. Wear your D.C. Comics apparel to the game for a chance to win in-game activations and prizes.On Sunday, January 29 at 2:05 p.m., the Heartlanders wrap up the weekend with Elementary School Day presented by MidWestOne Bank and a postgame skate presented by the Family Dental Center. The Heartlanders will welcome all Elementary School students, teachers and administrators and give back to local districts. After the game, take the ice with the players for a postgame skate.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.