Heartlanders look for another win against Wheeling at home Saturday

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, are coming off a strong 5-1 home win and rematch the Wheeling Nailers Saturday at 7:05 p.m.Saturday is the second of three straight games between the Central Division foes.Iowa smacked the Nailers by four Friday, scoring three goals in the third period. Tyler Busch tallied for needed insurance with four minutes to go and Steven Leonard scored twice in 15 seconds to ice the game. Hunter Jones made 22 saves in victory.Saturday and Sunday are the last two games of the team’s Cancer Awareness Series weekend, presented by DASH Auctions. All games against Wheeling this weekend will help raise money for local organizations and non-profits fighting cancer.Tickets are available for all Heartlanders home games by visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets. Find the full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotionsPromotion: Cancer Awareness Series Weekend, presented by DASH Auctions, honoring those that have fought and are currently fighting cancer. Specialty theme jerseys that will be available for purchase inclusive of a post-game meet and greet throughout the weekend on the DASH App. Purchase signed collectable pucks/apparel/name plates on DASH App to support local non-profits fighting cancerBroadcast Coverage: Watch online at flohockey.tv. Listen on mixlr.com/goheartlanders.Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)Leonard’s debutSteven Leonard scored twice in a fifteen second span and tallied nine penalty minutes in Iowa’s 5-1 win. He fought off the opening face-off and had nine penalty minutes, all coming in the opening six minutes of the game.It was the first time in his ECHL career he’s had a multi-goal game.Entering the game, Leonard had one goal in his ECHL career, coming last season with the Norfolk Admirals.He scored six combined goals earlier this season at the SPHL and FPHL level.Welcome back, MacIowa welcomed back defenseman Kevin McKernan against Wheeling Friday, his first game since Dec. 10 at Newfoundland. A top-four blueliner and Iowa’s most-experienced ECHL player, McKernan missed 25 straight games.The fifth-year year professional generated two goals and five points with the Landers in 13 games after Iowa acquired him in November from Greenville in exchange for future considerations.

All-time seriesThe Heartlanders are 6-4-1-0 all-time against the Nailers, including a 5-1-0-0 record ever at Wesbanco Arena. That road record is the best Iowa has against any Central Division opponent ever.The Heartlanders have scored 37 goals and allowed 28 goals in the all-time series.The winning team has scored at least four goals in nine of the 11 meetings ever.Both teams have earned one come-from-behind win. Wheeling did it Apr. 6, 2022 and Iowa came from behind for a 2-1 win on Feb. 3, 2023. The team to score first has won ten of the 11 all-time matchups.Season Series The Heartlanders enter Saturday with a 3-1-0-0  mark against the Nailers. The first three games of the ten-game series came at Wesbanco Arena. Friday was the first time the Nailers visited Xtream Arena since April 2022.Iowa has outscored Wheeling, 14-6, through the series’ first four games.Carson Denomie, Steven Leonard and Brendan Robbins have each scored two goals to lead Iowa in the series. Hunter Jones has won three games against Wheeling.Six Nailers have scored goals against Iowa.Iowa’s penalty kill is 14-for-14 in the season series against Wheeling.Upcoming home games and ticket informationView the team’s full promotional schedule at iowaheartlanders.com/promotions.Feb. 17 – Feb. 19 is Iowa’s Cancer Awareness Series, honoring those that have fought, are currently fighting or have battled cancer. Specialty theme jerseys will be worn for the weekend and are available for purchase inclusive of a postgame meet-and-greet on the DASH App. The games against Wheeling are Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:05 p.m., Sat. Feb. 18 at 7:05 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 19 at 2:05 p.m.The Heartlanders continue the 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.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.