Heartlanders Weekly Recap: A Rollercoaster Homestand Filled With Frustration, Magic, and Missed Chances

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 Kalamazoo, but the Wings wasted no time proving that the standings don’t guarantee anything. Just 2:50 into the first period, Ryan Cox beat the Heartlanders defense once again, marking yet another game where Iowa surrendered the first goal.

The slow starts have become a concerning trend, and the Landers again found themselves chasing the game early.

Things briefly turned around early in the second period when Stevie Leskovar tied the game 3:04 into the frame, assisted by Adam Capannelli. Unfortunately, that would be the lone highlight of the night.

Kalamazoo answered back just over two minutes later with Zach Okabe reclaiming the lead, and from that moment on, it was all Wings.

The third period unraveled quickly. Both teams played sloppy hockey, combining for 7 penalties, but Kalamazoo capitalized repeatedly. Hunter Strand made it 3–1 with a shorthanded, unassisted goal at 5:57, then Jayden Lee scored on a power play just over a minute later. Nolan Walker capped things off at 17:48, sealing a 5–1 win.

Kalamazoo outshot Iowa 33–25, and both teams finished with five penalties for 10 minutes each.

Friday, Nov. 21 — Cincinnati 2, Heartlanders 1

The Cincinnati Cyclones arrived for a two-game weekend set, and once again, the opponent struck first. Justin Vaive put Cincinnati on the board at 3:19 of the first.

But Iowa showed life. Isaac Johnson buried the equalizer at 11:04, assisted by Elliot Desnoyers and Jack O’Brien, sending the game into the first intermission tied 1–1.

Despite power-play chances on both sides in the second period, neither team could find the back of the net.

Cincinnati finally broke through at 5:40 of the third, when Ben King scored the go-ahead power-play goal after Yuki Miura was called for tripping. Iowa had two more power-play chances late but couldn’t cash in, falling 2–1 while being outshot 26–20.

Sunday, Nov. 23 — Heartlanders 6, Cincinnati 3 (Wands & Wizards Night)

On Wands and Wizards Night, the Heartlanders desperately needed some magic — and after a brutal first period, they finally found it.

The Cyclones exploded for three goals in the opening frame, with Luke Grainger, Lincoln Griffin, and Ben King all scoring to put Iowa in an early 3–0 hole.

But the second period belonged completely to Jack O’Brien.

First, O’Brien struck on the power play at 10:49, assisted by Max Patterson and Elliot Desnoyers, scoring just seconds after Cincinnati’s Zack Trott took a slashing call. Then, with under a minute left in the period, O’Brien buried another one, assisted by Elliot McDermott and Thomas Stewart, swinging momentum and cutting the deficit to 3–2 heading into the third.

Iowa rode that wave.Yuki Miura tied the game just over five minutes into the third, assisted by Mike Koster and Nathan Noel.

From there, the floodgates opened.

The Heartlanders scored three more goals — from Adam Capannelli, Mike Koster, and Jonny Sorenson — completing an incredible six-goal turnaround to win 6–3 despite being outshot 41–29.

The silver lining beyond the score? Iowa cleaned up their discipline, taking just three penalties for four minutes.

Wednesday, Nov. 27 — Bloomington 4, Heartlanders 3 (OT)

Looking to finish the homestand with a win on Blackout Wednesday, the Heartlanders came out flying with their best start of the season.

At 11:55 of the first, Max Patterson opened the scoring, assisted by Nolan Orzeck. Just minutes later, Thomas Stewart made it 2–0 with help from Luke Mobley and Patterson. Then Isaac Johnson buried a third goal, assisted by Mike Koster and Jack O’Brien, giving Iowa a shocking 3–0 lead after a dominant first period.

But that momentum didn’t last.

Bloomington chipped away in the second with goals from Eddie Matsushima and Brett Budgell, cutting Iowa’s lead to 3–2. The Bison tied it at 9:51 of the third on a goal from Kohei Sato, and suddenly the game was slipping away.

In overtime, it took just 1:06 for Matsushima to strike again, completing the comeback and handing the Heartlanders a crushing 4–3 loss.

Despite outshooting the Bison 35–27 and earning seven power-play opportunities, Iowa couldn’t put the game away, finishing the homestand at 1–3.

Where Things Stand

The Heartlanders now sit 6th in the Central Division at 6–9–2. The bright spot continues to be Jack O’Brien, who leads the team with 18 points, with Jaxon Nelson right behind him at 17.

The upcoming week won’t be easy, as Iowa faces Bloomington again (home and away) before traveling to Kansas City to take on the Mavericks.

But if Sunday’s comeback showed anything, this team can push back — they just need consistency, discipline, and better starts.

Blog by Ryan Burhite