Heartlanders coming off thrilling win and looking for repeat Sunday

Wichita, KS – The Iowa Heartlanders (16-11-3-1, 36 points) finish up a six-game road trip at the Wichita Thunder (19-11-2-1, 41 points) Sunday at 2:05 p.m. The Heartlanders and Thunder have split the first two games of the weekend.

The Heartlanders are coming off a thrilling ten-round shootout win, 2-1, over Wichita Saturday. Brandon Yeamans scored the shootout-winning goal. Kyle McClellan blocked six potential winning shots by the Thunder to keep Iowa alive. 

Wichita has won four of their last five and had a four-game winning streak snapped Saturday. The Thunder are 9-1-1-1 in their last 12 games.

Iowa is back at home for six straight games starting Jan. 10 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo.  

 

Tickets to Heartlanders Home Games

Know Before You Go Guide For Home Games

Broadcast Information

Audio Broadcast: Mixlr.com/GoHeartlanders

FloHockey Video Broadcast (Subscription Service): https://flosports.link/3AZr3GZ

Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Wichita Thunder (San Jose Sharks/San Jose Barracuda)

Need To Know:
- Iowa played their longest shootout ever Saturday, ten rounds. Three Heartlanders scored; Nico Blachman, Andrew McLean and Brandon Yeamans.

- Iowa killed off nine Wichita power plays, the most successful penalty kills in a game and tied for the most times Iowa has ever been short handed in a contest.

- The Heartlanders are 3-1-0-0 in the season series vs. Wichita.

Sop and Rousseau return from AHL

The Heartlanders received two vitally important players back from AHL Iowa Saturday - the team’s leading points scorer Matt Sop and the reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Month William Rousseau. Sop had seven shots (team high) in the win Saturday.

Sop garnered 19 points (12a) in the first 12 games of the season before earning a 1.5 month long recall to AHL Iowa. At the time of his recall, the rookie from Kitchener, ON was second in the league in points and assists.

Rousseau went 5-0-0-0 in December with a 1.19 GAA and .961 save percentage. 

Last Time Out

The Iowa Heartlanders killed all nine Wichita Thunder power plays and Brandon Yeamans scored the shootout-winning goal in the bottom of the 10^th round to bounce the Wichita Thunder, 2-1, Saturday at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Thunder had seven chances to win in the shootout starting in the top of the third round to the bottom of the eighth round, but Drew McLean scored in the top of the third to keep Iowa alive, and Kyle McClellan (24 saves) followed that up with six straight game-saving stops on Wichita to savor the win.

On the shootout-winning goal, Yeamans came in on his backhand and looped the puck over Trevor Gorsuch (44 saves on 45 shots). Nico Blachman scored in the top of the ninth round to give Iowa their first shootout lead.  

Out of division games

The Heartlanders have two games left in the season series – Sunday at INTRUST Bank Arena and March 30 at Xtream Arena. Iowa’s out-of-division games continue in January with a three-game set vs. Tahoe Jan. 17-19 at Xtream Arena. 

After the weekend set vs. Tahoe, Iowa has nearly a two-month break in games out of the Central Division, with contests against Rapid City (3), Wichita (1), and Norfolk (3) to complete the regular season. 

Homestand Preview

Iowa starts their second-longest homestand of the season (6 games) next Friday against Kalamazoo on Golden Ticket Night. The Heartlanders have played 13 home games this season, but have not played more than three home games in a row this season (Oct. 18-24 to open the season). By contrast, the club is in the final game of a six-game road trip Sunday. 

This home stand, Iowa takes on three teams – Kalamazoo, Indy and Tahoe. On Jan. 11 vs. Indy, the Heartlanders will host Dash’s Birthday Party. Jan. 18 vs. Tahoe is Wild, Wild Midwest Night! 

The Heartlanders will match their longest road trip ever later this regular season when they play 10 consecutive road games from Feb. 21-Mar. 15. The team follows that up with Iowa’s longest home stand ever from Mar. 21-Apr. 12.

$10 Online Youth Tickets

Starting in January, grab $10 online youth tickets to any Heartlanders home game! Purchase 1 regular-priced ticket, and get $10 online youth tickets (age 17 and under) to any seating section (excluding glass/premium seats). 

Hat Trick Package Now Available

Get Tickets To 3 Unforgettable Nights + A Heartlanders Hat, starting at $45. 

Wild, Wild Midwest Night (Country Night): Saturday, January 18 at 6:00 pm vs. Tahoe Knight Monsters

Stick It To Cancer Night: Saturday, February 15 at 6:00 pm vs. Toledo Walleye

Fan Appreciation Night: Saturday, April 12 at 6:00 pm vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

January 10^th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo: Golden Ticket Night

Let the magic of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Oompa-Loompas take you to a world of pure imagination!

January 11^th at 6:00 p.m. vs. Indy: Dash’s Birthday Party

Dash's Birthday is the ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY BASH for our mascot Dash and we need you to cheer your loudest and sing your best "Happy Birthday" to let Dash know he's the best mascot in the ECHL. 

January 12^th at 3:00 p.m. vs. Indy: Heartland Heroes Day + Postgame Skate (pres. by The Family Dental Center)

We’re honoring our local heroes whose bravery and dedication keep our communities safe at our annual Heartland Heroes game. Meet the remarkable people who make a difference and join in celebrating the true champions of eastern Iowa. After the game, enjoy a postgame skate pres. by The Family Dental Center.

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Single-game tickets, mini-plans, group tickets, flex tickets and season-ticket plans are available! Call 319-855-1775 to discuss options, or visit this link to make your plans for the 2024-25 season!