Derek Damon

ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders Hire Key Assistant, Announce Season-Ending Roster

Coralville, Iowa- On June 18th, Derek Damon made his first new hiring since having his coaching staff poached. His associate, Joe Exter, was poached by a junior hockey club, and training staff got promoted to the AHL’s Iowa Wild. Kevin Schmidt will complete the coaching staff, joining Damon and Video Coach Eric Michaud as the […]

ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders 2023-24 Season in Review

As the Florida Everblades clinch their third consecutive Kelly Cup, it is time to review the Iowa Heartlanders 2023-24 Season. I suggested in November that this may be the season where Iowa made their first playoffs. This was not what was written in the stars for Derek Damon’s crew. Iowa finished the season with 27 […]

ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders Key Assistant Leaves for NAHL Job

St. Cloud, Minnesota—On May 13th, the St. Cloud Norsemen of the NAHL announced that Joe Exter will be taking over as head coach and general manager of their team, effective immediately. With this, the Iowa Heartlanders’ search for a new associate head coach and assistant will begin immediately. The NAHL is a US-based junior hockey […]

Analyzing the Iowa Heartlanders’ decision to extend Derek Damon’s Contract

On Saturday, May 10th, the Iowa Heartlanders announced that Head Coach and General Manager Derek Damon has signed a multi-year extension. Damon’s previous two seasons in the Heartland did not inspire fans. Iowa went a combined 49-73-19-3 and was unable to get out of the cellar of the Central Division. However, not all of this […]

ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders Extend Head Coach and GM

The Iowa Heartlanders have announced that they have signed Head Coach and General Manager Derek Damon to a multi-year extension. Damon has been with the Heartlanders since their inaugural season, where he was an assistant coach and would be promoted to Head Coach after Gerry Fleming would head to Germany to coach after the teams’ […]

Heartlanders Make Multiple Roster Moves, Announce Changes to Fan Experience

Coralville, Iowa- After a disappointing weekend in Wichita, where the Iowa Heartlanders allowed the Thunder to earn comeback wins in both games, Head Coach and General Manager Derek Damon saw it was time to make some changes before the trade deadline. As the Heartlanders return home for the first time in almost a month for […]

Peyton Jones Stars Again in Heartlanders Comeback Win

Coralville, Iowa- Heartlanders fans filed excitedly into Xtream Arena for a second consecutive night, hoping for a second consecutive win. Following a first-minute goal from Kalamazoo’s Cooper Walker and Iowa only getting one shot off for the entire first period, the fewest they have had since also mustering one shot in the second period of […]

ECHL: Heartlanders re-sign Durflinger, Welcome Minnesotan Duo

The Iowa Heartlanders have re-signed Forward Jake Durflinger and welcomed in defensemen Robbie Stucker and Ben Brinkman to Coralville.