Abby Russo named Heartlanders Athletic Trainer

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders have named Abby Russo the team’s Athletic Trainer. Russo joins the Heartlanders as part of the team’s partnership with the University of Iowa Health Care Sports Medicine. UI Health Care Sports Medicine serves as care provider of the Heartlanders, providing skilled and professional care that enhances the team’s training, performance and recovery. 

“I’m so excited to work with UI Health Care’s sports medicine experts and the Iowa Heartlanders,” Russo said. “The Heartlanders are an amazing organization that continues to grow each year, and I hope to play a small part in it by enhancing our team’s training and performance. Thank you to [Head Coach] Chuck Weber and the entire Heartlanders staff for welcoming me with open arms. I can’t wait to get to work.” 

This is the third season of the Heartlanders partnership with UI Health Care. In the first two seasons of the partnership, Heartlanders’ athletic trainers have advanced to the AHL (2023-24 Jason Geisler to Iowa Wild | 2024-25 Da’Shawn Tolbert to Texas Stars).

Russo is entering her third season working in the ECHL hockey – she was the Jacksonville Icemen’s athletic trainer in 2024-25. In 2023-24, Russo worked as a graduate student for the Allen Americans as well as assisting at 2023 Dallas Stars Development Camp. She has a Master of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Texas Christian University and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health & Exercise Science at the University of Oklahoma. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Abby to the Heartlanders,” Head Coach & General Manager Chuck Weber said. “She has a strong hockey background working two years in the ECHL, and also has experience in high-end Division 1 Athletics, including for power-5 football programs TCU and Texas A&M. She will be a valuable resource for our players to achieve their goals as we compete for a championship in eastern Iowa.”

Here is Iowa’s Hockey Operations Department for the 2025-26 season

Head Coach/General Manager: Chuck Weber

Associate Head Coach: Mike Lysyj

Assistant Coach, Director of Hockey Operations: Brett Boeing

Equipment Manager, Assistant Director of Hockey Operations: R.J. Harris

Athletic Trainer: Abby Russo 

 Make sure you’re here: Single-game tickets and the team’s theme night schedule are now out for the 2025-26 season as 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.

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.