Iowa Heartlanders sign local player to training camp tryout contract

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa Heartlanders announced Monday that they have signed local forward Ben Pizzimenti to a tryout contract.

Pizzimenti is from Iowa City and graduated from Iowa City West High School. He played high school hockey in the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders program and NCAA Division III (non-scholarship) hockey at Concordia University in Wisconsin.

“It’s really exciting, growing up here. I’m super grateful to Coach (Chuck) Weber and the Heartlanders organization for giving me this opportunity, to come here and tryout,” Pizzimenti said. “Growing up here, there wasn’t a ton of hockey in the area. But seeing how the Heartlanders have grown youth hockey and professional hockey in the Corridor is really exciting. I’m very thankful to be a part of it.”

The Heartlanders begin training camp Oct. 6 under new head coach Chuck Weber. The regular-season ECHL opener is Oct. 19 at home at Xtream Arena against the Tulsa Oilers.

Pizzimenti is believed to be the third player from the Corridor to sign a contract with a professional team. Dylan Hullaby of Cedar Rapids played last season in the Federal Professional Hockey League, considered a notch below the ECHL and two notches below the American Hockey League, which is the top minor league in pro hockey.

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com