Heartlanders Weekly Recap: A Tough Stretch Into the Holiday Break

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 packing Xtreme Arena to support the team.

Iowa struck first late in the opening period when Matthew Sop found the back of the net just before intermission, assisted by Liam Coughlin and Keltie Jeri-Leon. The momentum carried into the second period, as Keltie Jeri-Leon doubled the lead at the 9:52 mark, with assists from Alexander Stensson and Sop.

Unfortunately, that would be the last goal for Iowa. Toledo responded by scoring four unanswered goals, flipping the game and handing the Heartlanders a 4–2 loss despite a strong start.

December 14 – Teddy Bear Toss vs. Toledo

Teddy Bear Toss Night brought plenty of excitement to the stands, but the game itself was controlled early by Toledo.

The Walleye opened the scoring eight minutes into the first period and never looked back. Thomas Stewart provided the lone goal for Iowa, assisted by Jonny Sorenson and Yuki Miura, but Toledo added three more goals to secure a 4–1 victory. The Heartlanders were outshot 36–23, struggling to generate sustained offensive pressure.

December 17 – Indy Fuel at Xtreme Arena

The Heartlanders showed flashes of fight against Indy, opening the scoring when Ryan McGuire scored 12:24 into the first period, assisted by Brandon Schultz and Jack O’Brien.

After Indy tied it early in the second, Iowa responded again. Nolan Orzeck scored at the 5:34 mark of the second period, with Jonny Sorenson earning another assist, giving the Heartlanders a 2–1 lead.

That lead didn’t hold. Indy poured on three unanswered goals in the third period to pull away for a 4–2 win, continuing Iowa’s struggles late in games.

December 20 – At Toledo

The road trip to Toledo brought little relief, as the Walleye jumped ahead less than two minutes into the game and never relinquished control.

Keanan Stewart scored Iowa’s first goal at 3:41 of the second period, assisted by Luke Mobley and Max Patterson, but Toledo answered with three goals in the same period to extend their lead. Jack O’Brien added a third-period goal for Iowa, yet Toledo quickly responded again, closing out a 5–2 win.

Despite the loss, Iowa outshot Toledo 31–30, showing that effort alone wasn’t the issue.

December 21 – At Toledo

The final game before the break was the most lopsided. Toledo dominated from the opening faceoff, scoring three goals in the first period and four more in the second on their way to an 8–2 win.

Elliot Desnoyers scored Iowa’s first goal at 12:27 of the first period, assisted by Yuki Miura and Matthew Sop. Brandon Schultz added the second goal late in the second period, with assists from Ryan McGuire and Jonny Sorenson.

Even in an 8–2 loss, the Heartlanders outshot the Walleye 36–26, a stat that sums up much of this stretch—opportunities were there, but execution and defensive breakdowns proved costly.

What’s Coming Up After the Break

The Heartlanders return to action tonight, December 26, hosting the Bloomington Bison for Bluey Night at Xtreme Arena. Coming out of the break, Iowa will be looking for a reset and a chance to regain confidence as the season pushes forward.

One area that could make a real difference down the stretch is fan support at home. While Iowa often plays in packed arenas on the road, home crowds have been noticeably lighter. This team continues to battle through adversity, and a louder, fuller Xtreme Arena could provide the energy boost needed to help turn close games into wins.

With a fresh start after the holiday break, the Heartlanders will aim to tighten up defensively, capitalize on scoring chances, and begin climbing back in the Central Division.