AHL: Iowa Wild Take Final Preseason Game Over Rockford IceHogs

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Max Baum | Last updated 10/4/24

Coralville, Iowa- on Thursday, October 3^rd, The Iowa Wild and Rockford IceHogs each played their last of two preseason games. This time, they met Halfway at Xtream Arena, Home of the ECHL’s Iowa Heartlanders, affiliate of the Iowa Wild.

That's an Iowa WILD win!

Final Score: Iowa – 5 Rockford – 2#ItStartsInDSM pic.twitter.com/4xVuIiDxfK
— Iowa Wild (@IAWild) October 4, 2024

20-year-old Hunter Haight stole the show in the halfway clash, notching a shorthanded goal, a powerplay goal, and a third goal from range. Rockford saw a first-period goal from Gavin Hayes and the last goal of the game from Brandon Saigeon.

Kyle Masters and Caedan Bankier rounded out the scoring for the Iowa Wild.

Both teams had Heartlanders Alumni make a homecoming, where Iowa’s Masters, Novak, Calverley and Hain, alongside Rockford’s Peyton Jones, all came back to the place they called home in 2023-24.

The Iowa Wild will play their regular season opener on Saturday, October 12^th at 6 pm CT in Des Moines vs. Manitoba, while the IceHogs will drop the puck on their regular season just an hour after that against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

GIVEAWAY ALERT

ICYMI, the first 1,500 fans through the doors of Wells Fargo Arena during Home Opener on Saturday, October 12th get a #IAWild Magnet Schedule!️

️: https://t.co/EJAM1xCMzF #ItStartsInDSM pic.twitter.com/Vo539jVgbX
— Iowa Wild (@IAWild) October 2, 2024