Coralville, Iowa- On July 3, the Iowa Heartlanders announced that they are bringing back forwards Will Calverley and Jonny Sorenson.
Calverley, 25, and Sorenson, 24, were both brought in for the 2023-24 season, with Calverley being an offseason acquisition from the Florida Everblades after his Kelly Cup win and Sorenson being signed from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks after a year of wearing the “C” for the Nanooks.
In 2023-24, Will played 39 games, recording 8 assists and 13 goals before a brutal collision vs. Cincinnati saw him sidelined for the rest of the season.
Calverley will use his second season in the Heartland as a push toward greatness. He has had flashes of stellar play throughout his time in the ECHL, but this was interrupted by his injury as well as team struggles. However, in his time in Heartlander Hockey Hour, he discussed with fans that he is not afraid of choppy play and sees himself as someone who wants to be in positions that can be tougher or more aggressive if it helps put goals on the board.
Here is one of #17’s best moments from last season:
Sorenson played all of the last 15 games of the season for Iowa after being signed straight out of college. When prompted, head coach and general manager Derek Damon said simply, “he’s a wonderful addition.”
Jonny will be given a chance to grow on his reliable presence, which included two goals and four assists. He also put up eight goals and seven assists in 33 games up with the Nanooks.
You can re-live a special moment of his here, his first professional goal:
The Heartlanders now have three signed players for next season, as Calverley and Sorenson join Yuki Miura on the 2024-25 roster.
You can follow Derek Damon and the Iowa Heartlanders’ offseason all summer long with Inside the Rink.
