Corridor Cross Checks: Both Iowa Heartlanders, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders pick up victories

CEDAR RAPIDS — If you are going to bus that far, you might as well get something out of it.

The Iowa Heartlanders got quite a bit out of their three-game road trip this past weekend. The first-year ECHL team lost Friday night at Toledo, 4-3, but posted back-to-back wins Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Wheeling, 4-2 and 2-1.

The Heartlanders have a 14-18-5-1 record for 34 standings points, seventh and last in the Central Division. However, Iowa has inched within three points of sixth-place Wheeling and within four of fifth-place Indy and Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo and Wheeling do have three games in hand and Indy two. Toledo leads the division with 50 standings points.

Goaltender Corbin Kaczperski made 33 saves to help the Heartlanders win Sunday’s game despite the club being outshot by a 34-18 margin. Zach White’s second-period goal was the winner.

White assisted on Kaid Oliver’s first-period power-play goal. Oliver leads current Heartlanders with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 36 games.

Saturday’s night game was a chippy affair. Iowa’s Cole Stallard and Wheeling’s Josh Victor squared off in a fight just two seconds in.

Joe Widmar’s goal with 2:37 left was the winner. Ben Sokay added an empty netter in the closing seconds.

Toledo scored three of the first four games of Friday’s game to win. It’s just shy of a seven-hour drive from Coralville to Toledo, Ohio, by the way, and a 10-plus-hour journey from Wheeling, W.V., back home to Coralville.

Jake Smith became the first Heartlander to be named ECHL Player of the Week for the week of January 10-16. He had four goals and two assists in three games during that span.

Released by the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks, the forward has scored 10 goals and amassed 20 points in 23 games.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

The United States Hockey League club put together a very solid performance Friday night to beat Dubuque, 4-1, ending a five-game losing streak.

The RoughRiders then were shut out Saturday night at Waterloo, 4-0. Cedar Rapids is 13-17-1-0 for 27 standings points, seventh of eight teams in the Western Conference.

Adam Flammang had a hat trick against Dubuque, his team-leading 14th, 15th and 16 goals this season. The Bemidji State commit was named one of four team captains last week by the club, joining forward Grant Ahcan, Nate Hanley and Andy Moore.

Defenseman Eric Pohlkamp got C.R.’s other goal, his first in the USHL. Goalie Connor Hasley made 33 saves to pick up the victory.

The Riders are 2-0 this season against their rivals from the Mississippi River.

Waterloo scored three goals in a span of 3:22 late in the first period to win Saturday’s game. The RoughRiders have scored 85 goals this season, which is third to last in the USHL.

This week

Lots of opportunities to watch both teams at home.

The Heartlanders host the Indy Fuel on Wednesday night at 7 at Xtream Arena. The Fuel are an affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Kalamazoo Wings then come to Coralville for a weekend set Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday night is Marvel Superhero Night, with fans able to purchase a pack of four premium tickets for $80, with two limited edition Marvel Superhero posters part of the package.

The RoughRiders are home Friday and Saturday nights as well, hosting Dubuque again Friday night and the Chicago Steel on Saturday night (7:05 puck drop both nights). Friday night is Kwik Star Hat Giveaway Night, Saturday night St. Louis Blues Giveaway Night, with fans able to win tickets to a Blues game. A Vladimir Tarasenko jersey also will be auctioned.

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