Iowa hosts Utah Saturday at Xtream Arena

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, oppose the Utah Grizzlies in the finale of a six-game homestand Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The Heartlanders have won five straight games, the second-best streak in team history (7 games, 2021-22).

Friday vs. Utah, Iowa put forth its most-dominant effort of the season, a 4-0 win led by 30 saves from Peyton Jones. The fourth-year netminder is 5-0-0-0 on the homestand, allowing five goals. Davis Koch scored twice and added an assist and is now tied for the team lead with five goals.

Iowa improved to 5-4-2-0 on the season tied with Wheeling for second in the Central Division. Utah sits at 4-5-0-0.

Saturday’s game features special Black & Gold ticket prices; come to the game wearing black and gold and receive a walk-up ticket for the price of a group ticket.

Iowa is next at home Dec. 15-17 vs. Toledo. 

Get tickets for Heartlanders Home games: Iowaheartlanders.com/tickets

Game Day Guide: 
6:05 PM: Doors Open
6:55 PM: Be In Your Seats For Pregame Show 
7:05 PM: Puck Drop

Bag Policy: Xtream Arena will implement a clear bag policy for all ticketed events.  A clear 12” x 6” x 12” bag or smaller will be permitted as well as small clutch style purses or wallets. Patrons will be asked to return any bag that does not meet this criteria to their vehicle prior to entry. Diaper bags or medical bags are allowed to exceed that size limit, but will be searched. Small clutch style purses or wallets no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” are permitted as well.

Need to know
- The Heartlanders five-game winning streak is the second-longest streak in team history. In the team’s inaugural season, Iowa won seven in a row. 
- Iowa’s four-goal victory was the most-lopsided victory Iowa has had since Feb. 17, 2023, a 5-1 win against Wheeling.
- The Heartlanders earned their third shutout in team history Friday. Peyton Jones, Hunter Jones and Corbin Kaczperski are the only goalies in team history to earn a shutout.

Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Utah Grizzlies (Colorado Avalanche/Colorado Eagles)

All time series - Sat
This week’s series between the Heartlanders and Grizzlies marks the first time the teams are playing since Feb. 2021. Iowa is 2-2-1-0 all time vs. Utah.

Goaltender Hunter Jones and forward Yuki Miura are the only remaining Heartlanders from the Feb. 2021 series. Miura was not active that series and Jones (currently recalled to AHL Iowa) played the Grizzlies twice. 

On the Utah side, forward Tyler Penner played Iowa all three times that year. Goaltender Trent Miner (then an ECHL rookie) beat the Heartlanders once, making 38 saves on 42 shots.

Long road trip looms

After today’s game, Iowa is set to embark on a franchise-long ten-game road trip. Prior to this season, Iowa’s longest road trip was five games. 

The Heartlanders play Kalamazoo three times, Fort Wayne twice, Toledo twice, Wheeling twice and Cincinnati once. 

Despite the length of the trip, Iowa will be able to come home after each of the next three weekends on the road. 

Iowa also has a pair of six-game trips later in the season, meaning 22 of the team’s 36 road games are jammed into extended road swings.

Including the return trips to Iowa, this ten-game road trip will cover approximately 3400 miles, the same distance as New York City to London. 

 

Next up
The Heartlanders visit Kalamazoo next Wednesday at 6:00, take on Fort Wayne Thursday at 6:30 p.m., then visit Wheeling for the only time this season Nov. 25-26.

 

Rose Club Memberships & Tickets Now Available For 2023-24 Season
Rose Club Season Ticket Memberships, Partial Plans, Mini-Plans, Flex Tickets and Single-Game Tickets 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.