Coralville, Iowa — Forwards Jack Billings and Ben Sokay have signed their first professional contracts with the Iowa Heartlanders.The two were teammates at Niagara University for two seasons (2018-20) and linemates during the 2019-20 campaign. Billings finished his NCAA career in 2020-21 and Sokay graduated in 2020. Sokay scored a career-best 11 goals for Niagara in 2019-20. That same season, Billings topped Niagara with a personal-best 12 goals.
Billings combined for 19 goals his final two years at Niagara, the most on the team. The native of Oak Lawn, Ilinois grew up playing youth hockey in the Chicago area for the Chicago Fury. He also skated for NCAA Division III Salve Regina Univ. from 2016-18 before transferring to Niagara.
Sokay's point totals increased in each of his collegiate seasons. He was named to the 2018-19 AHA All-Academic Team with Niagara.