
Bednar, Walleye Lull Heartlanders to Sleep in 3-0 Victory
March 3, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release
TOLEDO - The Toledo Walleye defeated the Iowa Heartlanders 3-0 on Sunday evening at the Huntington Center.
What Happened:
The Toledo Walleye welcomed the Iowa Heartlanders back into the Huntington Center to close out the weekend looking for a weekend sweep.
Jan Bednar defended the home net for the Walleye. Riley McCourt and Grant Gabriele manned the defence while Brandon Hawkins, Trenton Bliss and Orrin Centazzo led the Toledo attack.
Drew DeRidder started between the pipes for the visiting Heartlanders. Ben Brinkman and Hunter Lellig staffed the defence while Pavel Novak, Adam Goodsir and Yuki Miura filled out the attack for Iowa.
The action began with the two teams exchanging blows, at 3:56, sending McCourt and Louka Henault to the Toledo and Iowa penalty boxes respectively. Both penalties were killed off.
The Walleye found the scoreboard first at 15:53 when Bliss hit paydirt for the third time in two days. Mitch Lewandowski and Matt Anderson earned assists on the icebreaker
The two teams crowded together again, resulting in another pair of penalties and another four-on-four at 11:49. Adrien Beraldo was penalized for Roughing for the Fish, while Jack Durflinger was caught Cross-Checking for the Heartlanders.
Play dropped into four-on-three and a Walleye power play at 13:08 when Casey Dornbach was sent to the Heartlanders penalty box for Hooking.
The Walleye converted the power play at 13:28 when Bliss added yet another goal - his fourth in two days - to put the Walleye up 2-0. McCourt and Hawkins were the helpers on the score.
The remainder of the exchanged penalties from 11:49 were killed off after 21 seconds of four-on-four.
That wrapped the first frame with the Walleye leading the Heartlanders 2-0.
The Walleye were outshot by the Heartlanders 7-11 in the period. Toledo was 1/1 on the power play while Iowa did not have a power play chance.
The second period began with an Iowa power play at 4:36 when Toledo was caught with Too Many Men on the ice, which Chase Gresock would serve. Toledo killed off the power play.
The Heartlanders got their next power play chance at 16:26 when Brendon Michaelian was penalized for Holding. The Walleye killed off the power play.
That wrapped the second set of 20 minutes with the Walleye leading the Heartlanders 2-0.
The Walleye were outshot 9-11 in the period and 16-22 cumulatively. Toledo did not have a power play chance in the period while Iowa was 0/2.
The third period action began with a Walleye goal at 4:56 as Riley Sawchuk gave the Fish some added insurance. Hawkins and Anderson each added their second assists of the game.
Iowa got their next man-advantage at 7:02 when Gresock was penalized for Delay of Game. Toledo killed off the man-advantage.
The horns sounded with the Walleye claiming a 3-0 shutout victory over the Iowa Heartlanders.
The Walleye outshot the Heartlanders 13-3 in the period and 29-25 overall. Toledo did not have a power play chance in the period, finishing 1/1 on the power play, while Iowa was 0/1 in the period and 0/3 overall.
Three Stars Sponsored by Local 245:
Jan Bednar (W, 25/25 SV, 2nd Professional Shutout) - TOL
Trenton Bliss (2G; GWG) - TOL
Riley Sawchuk (1G) - TOL
What's Next:
The Toledo Walleye will remain at home to welcome the Cincinnati Cyclones back into the Huntington Center to open the weekend on Friday, March 8, 2024, with puck drop coming at 7:15 pm ET.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 3, 2024
- Bednar, Walleye Lull Heartlanders to Sleep in 3-0 Victory - Toledo Walleye
- Bednar Shuts Down Iowa, 3-0 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Fuel Fall to Fort Wayne on the Road - Indy Fuel
- Mavericks Clinch Spot in Postseason for Second-Consecutive Season - Kansas City Mavericks
- Oilers Can't Stop Mavericks from Clinching First Playoff Spot - Tulsa Oilers
- Sunday Smiles, as Nailers Win, 5-1 - Wheeling Nailers
- Lions Come Back, Take Down Railers 5-2 - Worcester Railers HC
- Cincy Can't Keep Pace in Wheeling - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays Defeat Everblades to Finish Weekend Strong - South Carolina Stingrays
- Greenway's Winner Leads Swamp Rabbits to Sweep - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Comeback Falls Short on Sunday at Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Sweet Revenge for the Lions - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- K-Wings Throttle Growlers 6-3 in Rubber Match - Kalamazoo Wings
- Growlers Go Down to Wings 6-3 - Newfoundland Growlers
- ECHL Transactions - March 3 - ECHL
- Swamp Rabbits Put Sour Note on Thrashers Night - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspension - ECHL
- Game 200 for Lions' Iron Man - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Solar Bears Acquire Cory Dennis from Newfoundland - Orlando Solar Bears
- Wichita Looks to Rebound Today in Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Host Wichita this Afternoon on Pucks-N-Paws Day in Allen - Allen Americans
- Grizzlies Win Series Finale 3-1 at Idaho - Utah Grizzlies
- Thunder Point Streak Snapped at Six - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Fall in Series Finale to Ghost Pirates - Rapid City Rush
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Toledo Walleye Stories
- Bliss Scores in Game 2 Loss to Fort Wayne
- Spezia Has Two-Point Night in Game 1 Win Against Fort Wayne
- Toledo Walleye Weekly No. 28: April 28, 2025
- Walleye Advance to Central Division Finals with Game 4 Win at Indy
- Hawkins Has Four-Point Night in Game 3 Win at Indy

