Nelson joined the Heartlanders after spending the entirety of the 2024-25 season on a two-way NHL deal with the Boston Bruins following his college career. He spent the year in the AHL, where he posted nine points in 35 games. After finishing the season with no qualifying offer from Boston, he decided to continue his professional career with the Heartlanders.
“Coming to Iowa gave me the chance to play like I did in college again,” Nelson explained. “Getting more minutes and finding my game were huge draws for me.”
While the ability to increase his ice time and get a bit closer to home were two significant factors in Nelson’s decision to come to Coralville, one of the biggest draws for him was getting the chance to play alongside former University of Minnesota teammates Jonny Sorenson and Mike Koster.
“It honestly doesn’t even feel real. It’s just like being back in the dorms again,” Nelson said about regrouping with his former teammates. “We’re all three doors apart on the same floor. It’s amazing to play with them again.”
The three Minnesota natives played together from 2020-22, at which point Sorenson went to play for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Nelson and Koster continued to play alongside one another until Nelson signed his two-way deal with the Boston Bruins in 2024.
In Nelson’s final season with the Golden Gophers, he had the opportunity to serve as the team captain for a hockey club he grew up cheering for, an experience he credits as one of the most influential periods in his career.
“You learn to lead by example and how you play,” Nelson said. “Taking pride in how you play the game was one of the biggest lessons I came away with. I’ve carried that with me ever since.”
Nelson grew up in Magnolia, Minnesota, a city right on the Iowa border with fewer than 200 residents and farmland stretching from end to end.
“My dad originally got me into hockey,” Nelson said. “I started to skate when I was around three, and I just never looked back from there.”
Nelson grew up in the early days of Alexander Ovechkin’s emergence with the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin’s ability to score at will caught Nelson’s attention, and it made him want to replicate that same goal-scoring prowess in his game.
In his three seasons with Luverne High’s hockey club, Nelson exponentially increased his goal-scoring, crescendoing with a 70-goal, 113-point season in 25 games. His outstanding performance drew eyes from the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, giving Nelson a chance to tune his game in the best junior hockey league in the United States.
“I remember there was an adjustment period for sure,” Nelson recalled. “The speed, the style of hockey, it was all more intense, not to mention having to travel to play as well.”
Nelson finished his USHL career with the Omaha Lancers (165 GP, 75 p, 34 g) before joining the University of Minnesota and eventually making his way to the Bruins.
Now, as Nelson continues the 2025-26 season in Coralville, approximately five hours away from his hometown, he looks to drive the Heartlanders to a new level of success. Through all the hard work and personal accomplishments, he has one major box left to check off: lift a championship trophy with his teammates.
Get Tickets — Saturday, November 15th vs. Bloomington: Stick It To Cancer
Presented by Dupaco Community Credit Union
It's a lavender out at Xtream Arena as the Heartlanders take on the Bloomington Bison at 6:00 p.m. for Stick It To Cancer Night! Join us in fighting for a cure with a silicone bracelet giveaway and a game-worn jersey auction on DASH Auctions.
Get Tickets — Wednesday, November 19th vs. Kalamazoo
It’s a Central Division showdown as the Kalamazoo Wings come to town on November 19th. Don’t miss puck drop at 7:00 p.m. for a show-stopping battle. Check out the Landers Game Trail, learn more about in-game experiences that you and your family can take part in, and make sure to be in your seats early for loads of fun!
Get Tickets — Friday, November 21st vs. Cincinnati: Dash’s Derby
Ready? Set? GO! Dash’s Derby hits the track with a matchup against the Cincinnati Cyclones on November 21st at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy face painting on the concourse and a pregame pyrotechnic show before a high-octane match, featuring a checkered flag giveaway and plenty of appearances from Dash himself!
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.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers