Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders (33-21-6-4, 76 points) continue a ten-game homestand with an afternoon matchup against the Wichita Thunder (36-22-6-1, 79 points) Sunday at 3:00 p.m. for Happy Gilmore Day, pres. by Waggle Golf.
The Heartlanders can clinch the team’s first berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs Sunday in two possible scenarios:
- An Iowa win AND a loss by Bloomington
- An Iowa overtime/shootout loss AND a regulation loss by Bloomington.
- An Iowa win AND a loss by Bloomington
- An Iowa overtime/shootout loss AND a regulation loss by Bloomington.
Iowa’s magic number is three to clinch the team’s first-ever appearance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Bison play Sunday at 3:10 p.m. at Wheeling.
Make sure to check out the Kelly Cup, the ECHL’s championship trophy on the concourse, and a postgame skate as well presented by The Family Dental Center.
Iowa is coming off a three-game series win against Fort Wayne where the Heartlanders went 2-1-0-0. The weekend ended last Sunday with an 11-round shootout victory, 2-1. Nathan Noel scored the game winner in the shootout. William Rousseau made 33 saves through regulation and overtime, then made ten more stops in the shootout.
Wichita suffered a 4-1 loss Saturday at Kansas City.
Iowa is third in the Central Division. Wichita is third in the Mountain Division.
Promotion: Happy Gilmore Day, pres. by Waggle Golf | Kelly Cup Appearance | Postgame Skate
Game Day Guide
2:00 PM: Doors Open
2:50 PM: Be in your seats
3:00 PM: Puck Drop
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:
- Yuki Miura, T.J. Walsh and Ryan Miotto all have at least 17 goals this season.
- The Heartlanders have won 18 home games this season, a single-season team record.
- Sunday is the final game of the season series between Iowa and Wichita.
- Yuki Miura, T.J. Walsh and Ryan Miotto all have at least 17 goals this season.
- The Heartlanders have won 18 home games this season, a single-season team record.
- Sunday is the final game of the season series between Iowa and Wichita.
Final game against Wichita
The Heartlanders are playing their sixth and final game of the season against Wichita. Iowa is 4-1-0-0 against Wichita this season. The Heartlanders and the Thunder haven’t played each other since early January, when the Heartlanders won back-to-back games against the Thunder to win a three-game weekend.
The teams have played a pair of weekend series this season and Iowa has come out on top in each. In the first series Nov. 15-16 at Xtream Arena, the Heartlanders swept the Thunder.
One of Iowa’s most defining-wins of the season came the next series Jan. 3-5 in Wichita. With a massive snow and ice storm bearing down Jan. 4, the Heartlanders won (at the time) their longest shootout ever in ten rounds, 2-1. 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.
Will Calverley tops active Heartlanders with five points (Matt Sop leads all players with eight points) in the series.
March Leaders
Keltie Jeri-Leon leads the team with nine points (2g, 7a) in March over ten games. During that stretch, Jeri-Leon had a five-game points streak.
Yuki Miura and Jack O’Brien are tied for most goals scored in March with three each. Miura scored two of his three goals on Mar. 13 in Rapid City. O’Brien also tallied two on Mar. 22 vs. Fort Wayne to secure a win.
Fourteen Heartlanders have scored at least one in March. Twenty Landers have at least a point.
Available NOW! 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).
Sunday, Mar. 30 at 3:00 p.m. vs. Wichita: Happy Gilmore Day, pres. by Waggle Golf + Kelly Cup Appearance + Postgame Skate
Now that’s what I call a Hole-In-One! We’re paying homage to one of the best comedy movies ever and celebrating the start of golf season. Plus, check out the Kelly Cup, the ECHL’s championship trophy, at the game, and join us for a postgame skate, pres. by The Family Dental Center.
Friday, Apr. 4 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk: Star Wars Night
Join us for an LED Foam Stick Giveaway and a postgame jersey auction! Let the Force guide you through a night of out-of-this-world excitement.
Saturday, Apr. 5 at 6:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk: BLUEY Night
From March 29th – April 4th, you can purchase $10 youth tickets online, but we won't cover the fees. And, if you wait till the day of the game to buy, the only tickets available at the box office will start at $30. So, skip the lines and grab your tickets now. During the game, Bluey will be on the concourse to meet our wonderful fans on a first-come, first-served basis during specific time slots.
But, if lines aren't your thing, you can purchase a No-Wait Experience beforehand to guarantee your meet & greet with Bluey herself!
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