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Sunday afternoon at Vibrant Arena was anything but ordinary as the Quad City Storm welcomed the Evansville Thunderbolts for the third matchup of the weekend. With dogs filling the concourse for Dog Olympic Night and playoff positioning on the line, the game delivered a physical, fast-paced finish that capped off a successful weekend for Quad City. Evansville struck first in terms of momentum, earning an early power-play opportunity just 2:55 into the opening period after a hi

After a 10-day layoff due to the holiday break and ongoing league issues, it was clear early that the Iowa Heartlanders were going to need some time to shake off the rust. Unfortunately, against one of the league’s top teams, that margin for error simply wasn’t there. Despite a strong effort and stretches of solid play, the Heartlanders fell 3–1 to the Kansas City Mavericks , a game that ultimately swung on special teams and discipline. Rust Shows Early, But Heartlanders Cont

The Quad City Storm hosted a New Year’s Eve bash on home ice, but no one expected the fireworks to come after regulation . In a hard-fought battle with the Peoria Rivermen, the Storm skated their way into 2026 with momentum, pulling off a 3–2 overtime victory  in front of a buzzing crowd at Vibrant Arena. Early Special Teams Swing Momentum The Storm earned the game’s first power-play opportunity just 3:05 into the opening period when Peoria’s Eimantas Noreika  was called for

I’ll be honest right from the jump — this game kind of annoyed me. Not because Iowa lost (they didn’t), but because the Hawkeyes suddenly rolled out an offensive performance that made you sit there wondering where in the world was this all season?  Still, style points don’t matter in bowl season. Wins do, and Iowa closed the year with a 34–27 win over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, giving Kirk Ferentz his 11th career bowl victory . And it didn’t take long for Iowa to show

If you tuned into Bears vs. 49ers expecting fireworks, you got them — just not the ending Chicago fans were hoping for. In a back-and-forth thriller filled with explosive offense and frustrating defensive lapses, the Bears fell to San Francisco 42–38, officially ending their hopes of claiming the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The night could not have started any better for Chicago. On the very first snap of the game, Jaylon Johnson jumped the route and tipped the ball into the hands of E

Despite late efforts, the Quad City Storm dropped Saturday night’s matchup against the Evansville Thunderbolts, falling 4–1 in a game that was fueled by emotion from start to finish. Coming off the way Friday night’s contest both started and ended, this game had a playoff-like edge early on. Big hits, post-whistle scrums, and several fights set the tone in what was a chippy, physical battle from puck drop. The opening period started slow on the scoreboard but not in intensity

The Quad City Storm gave their fans an unforgettable post-Christmas show on December 26, erasing an early three-goal deficit and defeating the Evansville Thunderbolts 5–4 in a shootout at Vibrant Arena. The night started with fireworks before the puck even settled in. Divyne Apollon  immediately set the tone, dropping the gloves with Will van der Veen  and working the crowd while clearly getting the better of the fight. The building was buzzing—but unfortunately, the early em

The Iowa Heartlanders headed into the Christmas break searching for answers after a difficult five-game losing streak, a stretch in which they were outscored 25–9. While effort was present in several games, results continued to slip away as Iowa struggled to finish games and keep pace defensively against strong opponents. December 12 – Hawkeye Night vs. Toledo Walleye The Heartlanders kicked off the stretch hosting Toledo on Hawkeye Night, with University of Iowa students pac

The ECHL finds itself on the verge of an uncertain and uncomfortable moment, as the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA) announced Monday that it will move forward with plans to issue a player strike notice following the Christmas break. From the outside looking in, this is a tough situation for everyone involved. The players’ concerns are not just about money, although pay is a major factor. According to the PHPA, players have also raised issues about being require

This one was special. I was able to gain media access  for the Iowa men’s basketball game against Western Michigan , giving me the opportunity to capture photos and sit in on the postgame press conferences. As a lifelong Iowa fan , this was a dream scenario. Growing up watching the Hawkeyes, being able to cover them from a media perspective felt like a full-circle moment. First Half: Iowa Takes Control Early The opening five minutes of the game were played at a slower pace, b

The Quad City Storm put together their best weekend of the season, going a perfect 3–0  on home ice to extend their win streak to four games . With strong goaltending, red-hot sticks, and plenty of offensive pressure, the Storm are starting to look like a team that’s found its groove as the season turns the corner. Friday Night: Storm Shut Out the Bulls, 3–0 The Storm opened their homestand Friday night hosting the Birmingham Bulls, and it didn’t take long to get on the board

The Iowa Heartlanders gave the kids exactly  what they came for on Wednesday morning—a wild, back-and-forth overtime thriller that ended with Iowa grabbing their third home win of the season . With doors opening at 9:35 a.m. for the annual Best Field Trip Ever  game, the arena was packed with thousands of loud, energetic students ready to “defend the forest.” And the Heartlanders delivered. A Fast Start—and a Fast Wakeup Call Kansas City struck first. At 6:28 into the opening

The Bears may have lost a close one in Green Bay, but one thing is clear: this isn’t the same old Bears , and even Packers fans would probably agree that this rivalry finally feels fun again. Both offenses started slow, trading punts in a scoreless first quarter. Chicago actually opened with a spark— C.J. Gardner-Johnson snagged an interception on Green Bay’s first drive , giving the Bears early momentum. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t capitalize. The offensive line stru

Only hours after a late-night snowstorm dropped nearly four inches across the Quad Cities, the Quad City Steamwheelers were out on the turf hosting one of their most important offseason events: open tryouts. The weather may have slowed down morning commutes, but it didn’t slow down the energy inside the arena as hopeful athletes arrived ready to prove they belonged on a professional roster. Setting the Tone Head Coach Cory Ross gives players the run down of the day for his ex

The Iowa Heartlanders head into a much-needed week off sitting at 7-11-2  and holding 6th place in the ECHL’s Central Division . It’s been an up-and-down stretch filled with tight games, big swings, and more than a few gloves hitting the ice. This week featured two more battles with the Bloomington Bison and a trip to Kansas City to open December against the Mavericks — and each game came with its own storyline. Game 1: Black Friday Revenge in Bloomington Heartlanders win 3–2

The Chicago Bears traveled to Philadelphia for a chilly Black Friday showdown, and what looked like a tough road matchup turned into one of the team’s most complete and impressive wins of the season. Behind a dominant ground game, clutch defense, and timely playmaking, the Bears walked out with a 24–15 victory—and maybe silenced a few haters in the process. A Promising Start… Until It Wasn’t Chicago started the night looking sharp. The opening drive went 42 yards on 11 plays

It’s been a rough start to the season for the Quad City Storm. For most of the year, they’ve been stuck at the bottom of the SPHL standings, struggling to find rhythm, scoring, and consistency. But this week—the first real signs of a turnaround began to show. While it wasn’t perfect, the Storm finally started digging themselves out of last place and put together one of their strongest efforts of the season. Let’s break down the week. Wednesday vs. Peoria Rivermen – Missed Cha

The Iowa Hawkeyes hit the road for their annual Black Friday rivalry matchup against Nebraska, a series they’ve controlled since the Hero Trophy was introduced in 2011. Iowa entered the day leading the all-time trophy series 10–4, and they walked out adding another tally to the win column. The game began with both teams trading early punts and feeling each other out, but Nebraska struck first—and emphatically. Running back Emmett Johnson , who had a monster afternoon, gashed

The Iowa Heartlanders returned home this past week for a four-game homestand, looking to climb their way up the Central Division standings. Instead, the week delivered a little bit of everything: early deficits, penalty trouble, a magical comeback, and a heartbreaking overtime loss. Iowa finished the stretch 1–3 , falling to 6-9-2  as they prepare for another three-game week ahead. Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Kalamazoo 5, Heartlanders 1 The homestand opened against last-place Kalam

The Chicago Bears continued their late-season surge with a hard-fought 31–28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, scoring a touchdown in every single quarter  and overcoming a costly turnover to secure the victory. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a game that showed resilience, balance, and a rising comfort level from Caleb Williams under center. A Rough Start—Then a Momentum-Changing Pick Chicago’s offense opened the game with a quick three-and-out, immediately giving the Steelers