ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders Welcome WHL Standout, Re-Sign Defensive Staple

The Iowa Heartlanders got their Tuesday started quickly when they announced the signing of WHL Forward Jack O’Brien and the re-signing of hard-working defender Chris Lipe.

Lipe is familiar with the Lander way, playing 74 games with the team since being signed in March 2023. As a pure defender, Lipe’s contributions of just nine points do not reflect negatively on his performances. The 24-year-old may be familiar to Iowa hockey fans, as he played for the Des Moines Buccaneers and Dubuque Fighting Saints before heading to college at Michigan Tech, where he quickly got quality minutes.

Chris will likely be asked to continue playing the same role he has with the team since joining, but these beautiful long shots will always be welcome:

Jack O’Brien, a 21-year-old Center from Denver, Colorado, was almost a point-per-game player over his five seasons with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. While the defense gets tougher at the professional level, Jack may be asked to take on the Kris Bennett-style role from the Heartlanders 2021-22 season of being a dynamic goal scorer and young team leader. O’Brien proved he is up for the challenge, finding the net in big moments and wearing the “A” for the Portland Winterhawks for two years, including this playoff moment:

Jack will need a new number when he puts on the Buck and Rose uniform, as Jonny Sorenson already wears his number 92.

With 11 players already on the roster, Derek Damon’s Heartlanders and rival Fort Wayne Komets are two of the most filled rosters in the league. They are on a crash course set for opening day, starting the season head-to-head at Xtream Arena on October 18^th and 19^th.

Here is how the Heartlanders Roster looks so far:

Goaltenders (1): William Rousseau

Defensemen (4): Jules Boscq, Louka Henault, Bogdans Hodass, Chris Lipe

Forwards (6): Nico Blachman, Will Calverley, Adam Goodsir, Yuki Miura, Jack O’Brien, Jonny Sorenson