ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders Add NCAA Forward

Jonny Sorenson Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Iowa Heartlanders
Jonny Sorenson Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Iowa Heartlanders Photo: Getty Images

Coralville, Iowa—Before Iowa’s three-game series with the Wheeling Nailers, Derek Damon looked to the NCAA to bolster the Heartlanders’ roster for a postseason push.

Jonny Sorenson, a forward from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, played five years of NCAA hockey and 167 games, playing three seasons for the University of Minnesota before transferring to Alaska-Fairbanks, where he was a captain for this 2023-24 season, which just ended for the Nanooks. Over 77 games, Sorenson tallied 18 goals and 25 assists. After wearing #4 for the Nanooks, Sorenson will need a new number for Iowa.

In Fairbanks, Sorenson also won the 2024 Chad Staley Team Player of the Year and Ryan Reinheller Humanitarian Award, as well as the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup for the 13th consecutive year, which is given to the winner of a series between Alaska’s two hockey teams: Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Sorenson will join the Heartlanders for an action-packed week, which now has a new addition to the festivities:

The U12 Junior Heartlanders won their league championship this previous weekend, beating out teams from across Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. They will be honored during the game on Saturday, March 16th, while fans are collecting their bobbleheads, celebrating St. Hat Trick’s Day, and getting their photos with the Kelly Cup.

While all of this happens, Iowa will look to take down the Wheeling Nailers and get back into playoff position after their hot start to the season.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Adirondack Thunder Re-Sign Hard Hitting Forward

The Adirondack Thunder have announced that they’ve re-signed forward Sean Gulka for the 2025-26 season. Gulka, 25, began the season in the SPHL with the Pensacola Ice Flyers, where he put up a goal and 22 PIMs in four games before signing with Adirondack. In 34 games with the Thunder, Gulka had two goals and […]

Read More

ECHL: Tyler Kobryn Returns To Worcester after Career Year In ECHL

The Worcester Railers have announced that they’ve re-signed forward Tyler Kobryn for the 2025-26 season. Kobryn, 28, began the season in the SPHL with the Peoria Rivermen, putting up two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games before signing with the Florida Everblades. In 18 games with the Everblades, he had two […]

Read More

ECHL: Norfolk Admirals Bring Back Connor Fedorek

The Norfolk Admirals have announced that they’ve re-signed defenseman Connor Fedorek for the 2025-26 season. Fedorek, 26, had four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 67 games during his first full season in Norfolk. He led the Admirals in PIMs with 95. He would add a goal and an assist in eight games […]

Read More