Wheeler and Stevens returning to Heartlanders for right reasons

By: David Fine // Coralville, Iowa – Grinding in the minors at any level and sport takes a certain amount of grit and resilience. Success is measured along thin lines, and often one’s positivity and “buy-in” to a club’s culture can lead to advancement opportunities at higher levels. In the Heartlanders inaugural season, Coach Derek Damon and the hockey operations department established a culture that helped convince rookies Ryan Wheeler and Jake Stevens to return for their first full seasons.“As soon as I talked with them at the end of my college career I trusted the coaches about where they thought my game could go as a player and a person,” said Wheeler, who came to Iowa in late March after completing a four-year career at the University of Connecticut. “I immediately felt like I had been there the whole year. Guys had us over for dinner right away with Ryan Kuffner and a few other of the boys.”Wheeler is from the Buffalo, NY metro area, played college hockey for UConn and spent his junior hockey days at home in the Western New York and in New Jersey. From an ECHL perspective, playing in the league’s North Division would’ve made it easier for Wheeler’s family to visit more frequently.“I’ve had that luck of playing close to home on the east coast for most of my career,” Wheeler explained. “I thoroughly enjoyed playing in Coralville. I’m a smaller town guy and like to push myself on the ice and as a person. If you’re just moving places where you think you’ll be comfortable and be close to home, you might never reach your full potential.”For Stevens, the story looks a little bit different geographically, but is right in his wheelhouse of being in a home away from home. He is from Naperville, IL, his sister is a Hawkeye alum and Jake has plenty of friends and family able to make the 3.5-hour drive to Coralville for weekend games at Xtream Arena.  “I have a degree of familiarity with the area and comfortability, but it’s always good to be a little uncomfortable,” Stevens said. “I love being in the Midwest. The games in the Central Division [in Michigan and Ohio] are close. For me I feel whether you’re coming on to a new team or its your first pro experience it can be a little intimidating. The guys were definitely very welcoming and made you feel a part of things and comfortable. It goes a long way as the season goes along with everyone pulling the same direction.”Shifting into first full seasonsLate-season transitions from the NCAA level to the ECHL for each rookie helped Stevens and Wheeler become accustomed to the pro lifestyle and game. Trusting coaches at the ECHL level takes on a different meaning than as a freshman at a University. At the pro level, a handful of bad games in a row could lead to lineup changes or roster moves that affect the entire room, so belief in your coaches and leaders is paramount.With Derek Damon ascending into the Head Coach role after serving as a Heartlanders assistant last season, each player said they feel confident about the team’s direction.“I skated with Derek in Florida several years ago when my parents used to be out there in the spring, Stevens said. “My assistant coach in college was pretty good friends with him in Maine. He treats everyone with respect and is a great guy for the room and to be around.”Stevens played his collegiate hockey for five years in New York (four years at St. Lawrence University and one year at Long Island University). He continued his point-producing abilities with the Heartlanders, scoring eight points in his first 11 pro games.“I think my favorite moment of my time was us getting that first win out of the way as a pro [vs. Kalamazoo],” Stevens said. “It makes you feel like you earned something. We were obviously very young and high on the rookie side so I think it’s going to be a positive dynamic this season.”With a strong locker room building, seven players already signed and the Heartlanders firmly entrenched in the Iowa River Landing, the team has 91 days left to continue building the team and its promotional schedule before opening night.“I loved the arena and coming to Iowa City last season,” Wheeler said. “It’s a wide range of good people. Just being able to meet people from all walks of life here in Iowa and the backgrounds and age group has been fun. It’s great to be back for another year.”----The Heartlanders 2022-23 schedule is now available at iowaheartlanders.com/schedule. The team opens their second season in the ECHL on October 21 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Idaho. Rose Club season ticket memberships, partial plans and group ticket options are available for the upcoming season by calling 319-569-GOAL and visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets.  

First full seasons upcomingLate-season transitions from the NCAA level to the ECHL for each rookie helped Stevens and Wheeler become accustomed to the pro lifestyle and game. Trusting coaches at the ECHL level takes on a different meaning than as a freshman at a University. At the pro level, a handful of bad games in a row could lead to lineup changes or roster moves that affect the entire room, so belief in your coaches and leaders is paramount.With Derek Damon ascending into the Head Coach role after serving as a Heartlanders assistant last season, each player said they feel confident about the team’s direction.“I skated with Derek in Florida several years ago when my parents used to be out there in the spring, Stevens said. “My assistant coach in college was pretty good friends with him in Maine. He treats everyone with respect and is a great guy for the room and to be around.” 

Stevens played his collegiate hockey for five years in New York (four years at St. Lawrence University and one year at Long Island University). He continued his point-producing abilities with the Heartlanders, scoring eight points in his first 11 pro games.“I think my favorite moment of my time was us getting that first win out of the way as a pro [vs. Kalamazoo],” Stevens said. “It makes you feel like you earned something. We were obviously very young and high on the rookie side so I think it’s going to be a positive dynamic this season.”With a strong locker room building, seven players already signed and the Heartlanders firmly entrenched in the Iowa River Landing, the team has 91 days left to continue building the team and its promotional schedule before opening night.“I loved the arena and coming to Iowa City last season,” Wheeler said. “It’s a wide range of good people. Just being able to meet people from all walks of life here in Iowa and the backgrounds and age group has been fun. It’s great to be back for another year.”----The Heartlanders 2022-23 schedule is now available at iowaheartlanders.com/schedule. The team opens their second season in the ECHL on October 21 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Idaho. Rose Club season ticket memberships, partial plans and group ticket options are available for the upcoming season by calling 319-569-GOAL and visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets.