Iowa Heartlanders Hockey 101
It’s hockey time in Coralville! The Iowa Heartlanders are starting their third season at the Xtream Arena on Thursday, October 19, and it’s shaping up to be the best season yet. Iowa Heartlanders hockey is filled with non-stop action, big hits, and yes even fights, which newcomers will get hooked to. Here are some things to know before you check the Heartlanders out.
The Iowa Heartlanders are our areas only professional sports team, affiliated with the Minnesota Wild. They are in the ECHL with other teams scattered across the United States and Canada. The ECHL is the third tier of professional hockey, meaning the players have two more steps to make the NHL. The tiers in Iowa are, the Iowa Heartlanders in Coralville, the Iowa Wild in Des Moines, then the Minnesota Wild in Minneapolis. This means you are watching the future of the NHL. The Iowa Heartlanders roster is filled with players from all over the country, including one Iowan.
Fans who come to watch will be entertained the whole time. When hockey is not being played during intermissions, select fans in the stands get hand picked for on-ice activities that may include tricycle races or knockerballs. There is also hockey puck tosses and guessing game videos on the video boards. On occasion, home games will have special items for the first 2,000 fans that walk in the door. Also, keep an eye out for the Heartlanders mascot, Dash! If you are no able to go to a game, you can watch it live on FloHockey or listen to it here. Everything you need to know about the Iowa Heartlanders can be found on their website.
The Iowa Heartlanders play their home games in Xtream Arena, in the Iowa River Landing in Coralville. Xtream Arena is a new state-of-the-art 5,100 seat venue with a perfect view no matter where you sit. Concession options include the regular game day foods like nachos, pretzels, hot dogs, popcorn, and more. There is also Pizza Ranch and Andale Cantina. Adults 21 or older can enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Those wanting to watch the Heartlanders in style can utilize one of the many suites.
The Iowa River Landing is located right off of interstate-80 and has several restaurants, shops, boutiques, and hotels. It’s the perfect area to explore before or after a game. If you are looking for some Iowa Heartlanders merchandise, check out their team store, The Silo, that is connected to the arena.
Hockey may be a complicated sport for newcomers to understand. For those wanting to learn more about the rules, we found a great article here for you to take a look at. What will not be hard to understand is that hockey is filled with non-stop action and the Iowa Heartlanders bring their all to the fans. Hockey is talked about as one of the best sports to see in person. So next time you are looking for something fun to do, don’t forget about the Iowa Heartlanders. We know you will enjoy seeing them play!
