Iowa Heartlanders

Early History: 2021-2023

Iowa officially joined the ECHL on January 12, 2021, becoming the first ever ECHL franchise based in the Hawkeye State. The team was officially named the Heartlanders in May 2021 after a name-the-team contest drew thousands of name submissions. 

Gerry Fleming was the first Head Coach in team history. Defenseman Jake Linhart became the first player ever to sign with the Heartlanders that offseason and forward Kris Bennett was named the first team captain early in Iowa's inaugural season. 

The Heartlanders defeated the Kansas City Mavericks, 7-4, in the first game in team history on Oct. 22, 2021. Forward Ryan Kuffner scored the team's first goal 25 seconds into the first game ever to give Iowa a 1-0 advantage and send the 4000+ fans at Xtream Arena into a frenzy. 

Iowa completed its inaugural season under Fleming with 29 wins, which included a late-season push to the playoffs in 2021-22 that fell just short. 

Fleming's assistant, Derek Damon, was named the second Head Coach in team history for the start of the 2022-23 season. Damon helped turn the team into an above .500 club in the season's final two months.

2023-24: signs of success coming

In 2023-24, the team's third season, the club had its best first half in Heartlanders history, which included Iowa's best home winning streak ever. The Heartlanders finished the regular season with a five-win improvement from 2022-23.    

2024-25: Breaking through to the playoffs

The Heartlanders enjoyed their winningest season ever in 2024-25 under Head Coach Derek Damon's direction, qualifying for the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs with 36 wins and 83 points. Captain Yuki Miura, in his fourth season with the team, led the squad with 21 goals.

The team finished 3rd in the Central Division behind Toledo and Fort Wayne. 

Iowa won 3 games in the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs Central Division Semifinals against Fort Wayne. After winning the team's first-ever playoff game against Fort Wayne, 5-3, on Apr. 18, 2025, the club returned home for an excellent stretch Games 3-5 the next week. In Game 4 on Apr. 22, 2025, defenseman Zeteny Hadobas won it in Double Overtime, securing a victory in the longest game in team history to tie the series up 2-2. 

Fort Wayne eventually won the series in seven games, but the Heartanders built a major foundation for future success in 2024-25.

A Heartlander is no ordinary breed of buck. The primary logo is of a white-tailed deer, poised for battle in expression, stance, and thorny detailing, to capture the essence of our strength, determination and work ethic here in Iowa.

The antlered crown, adorned in sunrise gold, makes it known that we are the mighty kings of the Heartland. For victory against foes, a gold crown is earned, not given.

Collectively, our colors represent the tradition, toughness, grit, grace and heart of Heartlander hockey.

Iowa’s state flower, the wild prairie rose, featuring heartshaped, coral pink petals and a shining sun, symbolizes everything worth playing for — the magnificent riches and traditions of our home, and the wild spirit of our fans that will continue to grow. The flower blooms every June, perfectly timed with the Kelly Cup. Our target is set, now its game on.

The wild prairie rose will serve as our secondary logo and will be featured on the Iowa Heartlanders jersey in addition to the primary logo. 

The Iowa Heartlanders name and logos were created in partnership with Win X Two Branding Agency (winxtwo.com) and designer Brian Gundell.