Leading scorer Walsh and newcomer McDermott sign with Heartlanders

Coralville, Iowa – Iowa Heartlanders Head Coach & General Manager Chuck Weber announced that the Heartlanders, proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, have signed forward T.J. Walsh and defenseman Elliott McDermott to ECHL contracts for the 2025-26 season. 

2025-26 Heartlanders Roster

Forwards (8): Yuki Miura, Ryan Miotto, Jonny Sorenson, Jack O’Brien, Keltie Jeri-Leon, Matt Hubbarde, Luke Mobley, T.J. Walsh

Defensemen (1): Elliott McDermott

Walsh led the Heartlanders with 43 points (18g) in 66 games as a rookie with Iowa last season. The Shrewsbury, MA native spent five years skating in the NCAA, splitting time between Northeastern University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and Sacred Heart University. Across the three schools, Walsh put up 70 points in 142 games, earning him a two-game stint with the Orlando Solar Bears to conclude the 2023-24 campaign. He stands at 5-foot-9 and weighs 170 pounds.

McDermott played college hockey with Colgate University, the University of Massachusetts, and RPI. He joins Iowa as a rookie, completing his final collegiate season at RPI with 18 points (3g) in 35 games. He concluded the 2024-25 season with the Adirondack Thunder, where he put up one assist in five games. The Kingston, ON native weighs in at 194 pounds and is 5-foot-11. 

Head Coach and General Manager Chuck Weber:  “T.J. had an exceptional rookie season in Iowa and was able to showcase his offensive abilities. Knowing him from his time at RPI I know what he can bring night in and night out to help us on and off the ice. Elliott is a strong two-way defenseman who had an exceptional college career. He got a sampling of pro hockey at the end of last season and know he can make an impact on the back end this season.”

Make sure you’re here: The Heartlanders 2025-26 schedule is here and the team is planning theme nights and a promotional schedule for the 2025-26 season, with details announced this summer. We will be offering a variety of ticket plans and corporate partnership opportunities.

The Heartlanders open the team’s fifth season at Xtream Arena on Friday, Oct. 17 vs. Tulsa. Call 319-569-4625 or visit iowaheartlanders.com/tickets/ticket-plans to learn more about ticket package options or group ticket pricing for company outings, birthday parties or community groups of 10 or more.

Be the first to score the best seats, exclusive ticket availability, and unforgettable in-game experiences—join the 2025-26 Iowa Heartlanders Season Waitlist now and get notified the moment tickets go on sale: https://bit.ly/2526heartlanderswaitlist

For Corporate Partnerships call 319-855-1775 or info@iowaheartlanders.com. Align your business with the excitement of the Heartlanders coming off their best season yet. Partnerships can range from in-arena signage, such as dasherboards and video board advertisements, to digital and social media collaborations, reaching over 20,000 followers. Our team is eager to work with businesses to create tailored corporate partnership packages that meet specific marketing and business objectives.