Heartlanders and Wings renew division rivalry for weekend set

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, oppose the Kalamazoo Wings twice this weekend, starting with a battle at Xtream Arena Friday at 7:05 p.m. Iowa is 2-2-1-1 in the season series against Kalamazoo.Iowa has points in three of four games (2-1-1-0) and five wins in February. Among recent milestones, Zach White played in his 100th career Heartlanders game Wednesday, the first player in Iowa history to skate in at least 100 games. He registered an assist in a 4-3 loss.The K-Wings have earned at least a point in three straight (2-0-1-0), last taking Fort Wayne to overtime and falling, 6-5, Sunday.Tickets are available for all Heartlanders home games by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets. Find the full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotionsPromotion: Iowa’s Diversity Awareness Series, celebrating how sports bring us together. The Heartlanders will demonstrate their commitment to create an environment that fosters inclusion for all. Games on Fri., Feb. 24 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo and Sat., Feb. 25 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo.Broadcast Coverage: Watch online at flohockey.tv. Listen on mixlr.com/goheartlanders.Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Kalamazoo Wings (Columbus Blue Jackets/Cleveland Monster)Last Time OutThe Heartlanders held a pair of leads, but the Indy Fuel stormed from behind Wednesday with three unanswered goals to win, 4-3, at Xtream Arena.Darion Hanson made 28 saves in defeat. Zach Driscoll won with 19 denials. Brendan Robbins scored to make it 3-1 Iowa halfway through the second for his seventh goal of the season. He has at least a point in eight of the last nine games.Nolan Orzeck scored his fifth professional goal 58 seconds into the game.Friday Night RizzThe Heartlanders have won three straight games on Friday, comprising three of the team’s five wins this February.In the wins, Iowa has outscored opponents, 11-4. In the team’s last Friday game, Iowa defeated Wheeling by a 5-1 score.The feat is all the more remarkable considering Iowa’s earlier season need for Friday success; Iowa won its first Friday game of the season Feb. 3 vs. Wheeling.Scouting KalamazooKalamazoo is coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to Fort Wayne Sunday, the first time this season the K-Wings have lost when scoring at least four goals in a game. Sunday was the second time in 18 games Kalamazoo tallied four goals or more in a game. Coale Norris scored twice in the Sunday overtime loss and has tallied in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.Five K-Wings have scored at least ten goals, led by Matheson Iacopelli (14g). Brandon Saigeon has registered a team-best 21 assists and 29 points.Hunter Vorva (21 GP) and Evan Cormier (25 GP) lead the team in appearances. Vorva, a Kalamazoo native, tops the team with ten wins and is best on the active roster with a 2.48 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.If Kalamazoo earns a point Friday, it will match the K-Wings longest point streak of the regular season (4).Upcoming home games and ticket informationView the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions.The Heartlanders continue a home stand Feb. 22, Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 vs. Indy for Iowa’s Diversity Awareness Series, celebrating how sports bring us together. The Heartlanders will demonstrate their commitment to create and environment that fosters inclusion for all. Games take place Wed., Feb. 22 vs. Indy at 7:05 p.m., Fri., Feb. 24 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo and Sat., Feb. 25 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo.Iowa completes a seven-game home stand Wed., Mar. 1 with its final game of the season against the Kansas City Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.Single-game tickets, group ticket options, partial plans and season ticket memberships are available for Heartlanders home games at Xtream Arena.  Call 319-569-goal or visit iowaheartlanders.com/tickets for more information.