Kalamazoo, MI — Max Patterson (2g) and Jaxon Nelson (2g, 1a) scored twice in the first half of the game and the Iowa Heartlanders burned the Kalamazoo Wings, 5-1, Friday at Wings Event Center. The Heartlanders scored the first four goals of the game. Iowa is 3-1-0-0 to begin the season, their best start in team history. Riley Mercer made 25 saves for his second professional win. 

Patterson gave Iowa a 1-0 edge with a short-handed strike at 2:04 of the second, his first professional goal. Iowa’s Nolan Orzeck aimed a perfect neutral-ice feed to Patterson to start a two-on-one. Patterson fed Yuki Miura then planted himself at the right post for a tap-in goal. Nelson did the same with 2:50 to go in the first, touching in a left-circle feed from Isaac Johnson. Jack O’Brien earned the secondary assist.

O’Brien, Johnson and Nelson combined again on Nelson’s second of the game at :32 of the second, making it 3-0. Nelson sniped it from 55 feet away straightaway from just inside the blue line. 

Patterson made it 4-0 seven minutes later, hooking in a fluttering puck at the net mouth. 

After the Wings made it 4-1, Iowa started the third period with a power-play goal from Keltie Jeri-Leon to extend the edge back to four goals. Nelson and Johnson once again helped out, feeding it off the goalie’s pads which left a rebound for Jeri-Leon at the right dot.

Jonathan Lemieux took the loss with 19 saves.

The Heartlanders visit Kalamazoo again Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Iowa is next at home for three games against Fort Wayne Oct. 29, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The Nov. 1 game against Fort Wayne is Honoring All Heroes Night, pres. by Great Clips.

Box Score

Tickets to Heartlanders Home Games

Get Tickets — Wednesday, October 29th vs. Fort Wayne

Be there when the puck drops against the Fort Wayne Komets on October 29th at 7:00 p.m. for an electrifying match.

Get Tickets — Friday, October 31st vs. Fort Wayne: Haunted Heartland

No tricks; only treats at Haunted Heartland as the Heartlanders take on the Fort Wayne Komets on October 31st at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy some candy on the concourse while you take part in our costume contest for a frightfully fun night of games, photos and chilling surprises!

Get Tickets — Saturday, November 1st vs. Fort Wayne: Honoring All Heroes Night

Presented by Great Clips

Join us in honoring Eastern Iowa’s local heroes with a showdown against the Fort Wayne Komets at Xtream Arena on November 1st at 6:00 p.m. Honoring All Heroes Night, presented by Great Clips, celebrates police, firefighters, active duty or retired service members and all first responders who work to keep Coralville safe!

$10 Online Youth Tickets

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). 

Make sure you’re here: 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.

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