Iowa concludes second season at home Saturday vs. Wheeling

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, finish their second season in the ECHL at home vs. the Wheeling Nailers Saturday at 7:05 p.m. This is the first time in team history the Heartlanders’ final game of the regular season is at home.Saturday also marks the 10th matchup of the season series with Wheeling. Iowa has won five games and Wheeling has won four.Friday, Iowa came from behind with four unanswered goals to staple Wheeling, 5-2. Yuki Miura generated three points, Austin Eastman scored for the second straight game and Mitch Benson recorded 41 saves.Promotion: Saturday’s game is presented by Steindler Orthopedic Clinic and features a game-worn jersey auction, player card giveaway thanks to the Iowa City Area Sports Commission and a fanbango giveaway for all fans (Steindler Orthopedic Clinic).Broadcast 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)All-time Series – SaturdayThe Heartlanders and Nailers battle for the 17th time ever Saturday in what has been an even all-time series; Iowa has won eight games and the Nailers have won eight.Last season, Wheeling won the season series, 4-3-0-0. This season, Iowa has five wins and four losses against the Nailers.Iowa has been better on the road all time against the Nailers than at home; the Landers are 5-2-0-0 at Wesbanco Arena and 3-4-2-0 at home.Of note in the all-time series, the team that scores first has won 13 of the 16 all-time matchups. Both teams have two come-from-behind victories against each other; Iowa has two this season and Wheeling has one.Season Retrospective and highlightsThe Heartlanders have improved throughout the course of their second ECHL season after sustaining a slow start; the club started winless in their first six games, but held ground in the standings through the end of the 2022 calendar year. Since February, the Heartlanders have hovered with a record around hockey .500 (13-14-4-0) and picked up some important rookie pieces from the NCAA and junior ranks that could be pieces on next year’s teams.Here are some of the most-memorable moments at Xtream Arena in year 2- On Dec. 14, the Heartlanders hosted Kalamazoo in the team’s first-ever Field Trip Day, a rousing success that brought a few dozen schools out to Xtream Arena in a 5-1 win. Tyler Busch registered his first career hat trick and Hunter Jones won his first game of the season.- February 17-19 vs. Wheeling: In a penalty-filled and rambunctious weekend series, the Heartlanders picked up five of a possible six points. Each game had unique flair; Iowa won by four on Friday led by Steven Leonard’s two-goal, nine-penalty-minute night. Saturday, in a game that featured 86 combined PIM, Iowa held on for a 4-3 win. Despite an overtime loss Sunday, the Heartlanders overcame a 4-1 deficit with three goals in the third period to stun Wheeling.- Mar. 24 vs. Wichita: in one of the most-dramatic endings in Heartlanders history. Iowa scored twice in the final seven minutes (Kevin McKernan/Tommy Parrottino) to tie the game and force overtime. Tyler Busch won the game at 2:15 of overtime.Rose Club Memberships Now Available For 2023-24 SeasonRose Club Season Ticket Memberships are now available for the 2023-24 season, the Heartlanders’ third in the ECHL. Call 319-569-goal or visit iowaheartlanders.com/tickets for more information.