On Tuesday (Feb. 14), the ECHL announced the Iowa Heartlander’s signing of forward Steven Leonard. Since completing his collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (106 games, 38 goals, 54 assists), Leonard has spent time in the FPHL, SPHL, and ECHL. This is Leonard’s third professional season, and he sits with 15 goals, 24 assists, and 368 penalty minutes in 95 games played.
His professional career began in the FPHL with his 2020-21 season split between the Port Huron Prowlers and the Elmira Enforcers, where he shared a combined five goals, eight assists, and 92 penalty minutes in 20 games. The following season, Leonard was moved to the SPHL to play 23 games with the Knoxville Ice Bears before completing his season in the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals (45 games, four goals, seven assists, 157 penalty minutes).
Leonard’s 2022-23 season started in the FPHL with the Danbury Hat Tricks, where he played seven games, putting up three goals and four assists, sitting for 47 penalty minutes, before being moved to the Pensacola Ice Flyers. The Heartlanders (10-25-9) will add Leonard to the active roster after three goals, five assists, and 76 penalty minutes in 23 games for Pensacola. With a clear strength in playing a physical game, bringing Leonard to the Heartlanders will add another element of physicality to the lineup as the team hopes to fight its way out of the last spot in its division.
You can catch the Iowa Heartlanders back in action on Friday (Feb. 17) when they host the Wheeling Nailers for the first game of their Cancer Awareness Series. The specialty theme pink jerseys worn during the series will be up for auction starting Wednesday (Feb. 15) to support local non-profits.
