Heartlanders make first-ever trip to BOK Center

Tulsa, OK – The Iowa Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, open the weekend Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the Tulsa Oilers. 

The Heartlanders are opposing Tulsa for the first time this season. The clubs play each other Saturday again to wrap up an abbreviated two-game series. The Oilers play in the Mountain Division and are currently 15-15-3-0 (33 points). 

Iowa picked up a win Sunday at Fort Wayne to move within two points of Kalamazoo for sixth in the Central Division. The Heartlanders are five points back of the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.

In the Heartlanders’ last game, Max Johnson scored twice and Drew DeRidder blocked a career-high 43 shots for his second professional win. 

Tulsa is coming off a 4-2 loss at home Sunday vs. Rapid City. The Oilers won two of three games against the Rush last weekend, snapping a six-game winless stretch.

The Heartlanders complete a seven-game road trip Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against the Oilers. The Heartlanders have two seven-game road trips this season and completed a ten-game trip in early December. The ten-game trip is the longest any ECHL, AHL and NHL has had to endure this season. 

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

Game Day Guide: 

6:50 PM: FloHockey broadcast and audio broadcast starts.

7:05 PM: Puck Drop 

Watch on FloHockey: https://flosports.link/3tVsLmd

Listen on Mixlr: mixlr.com/goheartlanders

 

Need to know
- The Heartlanders are opposing Tulsa for the first time since Feb. 16, 2022, a 4-3 come-from-behind Iowa victory in the shootout.

- The Heartlanders have taken ten or fewer penalty minutes in four straight games.

- Iowa has notched the game’s opening goal in four straight games and in five of the last six contests.

Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Tulsa Oilers (Anaheim Ducks/San Diego Gulls)

DeRidder denies, puts name near top of record books

Rookie Drew DeRidder blocked 43 shots at Fort Wayne Sunday to will the Heartlanders to a 3-2 win. His 43 saves were tied with Peyton Jones for the most by a Heartlanders goaltender this season. Additionally, it was tied for the third-most saves in a game in team history. Trevin Kozlowski blocked 48 shots in Dec. 2021 vs. Fort Wayne and Hunter Jones made an ECHL-career-high 45 denials at home against the Komets in Jan. 2023. 

Coincidentally, all four of the best save performances in team history have been against the Komets, and Iowa is 3-1-0-0 in those games. DeRidder blocked 21 shots in the third period of Sunday’s victory, which was the second most in a frame ever by a Heartlanders goaltender (Kozlowski, 23 saves in 1^st period of 48-save performance in Dec. 2021).

Max Johnson emerges

Second-year forward Max Johnson signed with Iowa two weeks ago and has paid major dividends, scoring three goals in his last three games. He tallied the game’s first two goals Sunday in the victory. Johnson has played in seven games with Iowa and already matched the number of goals he scored all last season in 36 games combined between Wheeling and Worcester. 

The 25-year-old registered three double-digit goal seasons at the NCAA level with Bowling Green and played his fifth NCAA season with Wisconsin in 2021-22. 

Next up
The Heartlanders are at home Mon., Jan. 15 at 2:05 p.m. vs. Cincinnati – schools are off for the day and bring your kids out for a great day at Xtream Arena. Tickets in the seating bowl are $15 for every section!

Iowa continues a three-game homestand vs. Wheeling on Fri., Jan. 19 at 6:35 p.m. on Affiliation Night presented by DASH Auctions, celebrating Iowa’s proud affiliation with the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild. 

On Sat., Jan. 20 at 6:05 p.m. against Wheeling, the Heartlanders are back at Xtream Arena for Dash’s Birthday Party, presented by Paul Park Real Estate. Join the Heartlanders mascot Dash and dozens of his mascot friends for a family-friendly Saturday night at Xtream Arena. On the 20th, youth tickets for the game are $5 with the purchase of an adult ticket. 

Join the fun at Xtream Arena in the 2023-24 season

Here are some of the best options to make sure you experience the family-friendly entertainment of Heartlanders Hockey at Xtream Arena this season!

Heartlanders 3-Pack: The perfect gift to catch Heartlanders Hockey! Receive one ticket to each of the three Heartlanders games listed below and $25 merchandise credit in The Silo-Heartlanders Team Store. Friday, January 19 @ 6:35pm – Minnesota Wild Affiliation Night | Saturday, February 10 @ 6:00pm - Cancer Awareness Night | Saturday, April 13 @ 6:00pm - Fan Appreciation Night 

18-game plans: With more than half the home season remaining, join us with an 18-game ticket plan, including the many perks, savings and advantages of being a half-season member. 

12-game plans: Grab tickets to your favorite 12 games! 12-game plans include savings on individually-priced tickets!

Flex Plans: Enjoy the service, savings and game dates that work best for you! Flex plans include “any game” ticket vouchers that are good for any home game during the 2023-24 regular season.