Ice hockey in Iowa: Difference between revisions

Despite being next door to hockey-mad [[Minnesota]], Iowa's relative lack of natural ice surfaces made it difficult for the sport to catch on in the Hawkeye state. The low population density also meant that there were few locales that could support an artificial ice rink. These factors contributed to the state not receiving its first major ice hockey team until the late 1950s. At the time, the [[United States Hockey League|United States Central Hockey League]], a senior league that operated mostly out of Minnesota, saw many of its previous teams cease operations in 1958. In order to keep the league alive, several new clubs were started, including the [[Des Moines Ice Hawks]]. The franchise survived for three years before the league rebranded itself as the United States Hockey League and became a [[Semi-professional sports|semi-pro]] circuit. The Ice Hawks changed their names to the [[Des Moines Oak Leafs]] and got a big boost when the [[Buccaneer Arena|Des Moines Ice Arena]] opened its doors in November 1961. The club remained with the USHL for two years before leaving to join the fully professional [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] in 1963. The team had some success over the years, reaching the finals in '65 and '71 but it wasn't until after they changed their named to the [[Des Moines Capitols]] that they won a league championship. Success, however, came too late for the team and after one more season the teamthey ceased operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=130 |title=Des Moines Capitols Statistics and History |work=Hockey DB |accessdate=December 7, 2023}}</ref>

With four team spread across the state, the USHL was now primarily located in Iowa, a situation that became even more noticeable when a team in [[Wisconsin]] folded in 1981 and was replaced by the [[North Iowa Huskies]] in 1983. While theirthere was a rapid expansion with junior hockey, Iowa was largely ignored by the professional ranks. Because the Capitols had failed to catch on and the [[Iowa Stars (1969–70)|Iowa Stars]] had lasted just one year, no teams were willing to take another gamble in the midwestern state. Unbothered by the lack of professional hockey, the USHL remained the premier league in Iowa and was buoyed by the on-ice success of its many teams. Dubuque and Sioux City combined for four championships in the 1980 but the 90s belonged to the Buccaneers. Des Moines won 3 championships to go with 4 regular season titles. Not everything was successful, however, and the USHL did go through some perturbations around the turn of the century.

Iowa was left without pro hockey for four years until the [[Minnesota Wild]] relocated their main affiliate to the region. The [[Iowa Wild]] played their first game in 2013 and played in the same building as the Stars/Chops (the [[Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, Iowa)|Wells Fargo Arena]]). While the team has not seem much on-ice success, the Wild consistently draw crowds of 6,000 or more to their games. The stability of the state's hockey franchises eventually led to the [[ECHL]]'s arrival in 2021 when the [[Iowa Heartlanders]] were introduced. The state received its first college hockey program in 2023 due in part to unfortunate circumstances at another university. Due to financial problems, [[Finlandia University]] was forced to close after the 2022–23 academic year. The athletic department was able to make an arrangement with the [[University of Dubuque]] to absorb both its men's and women's ice hockey programs with most of its players transferring in the process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uscho.com/2023/04/15/university-of-dubuque-starting-mens-womens-ncaa-d-iii-hockey-programs-for-2023-24-season-anticipates-transfers-from-finlandia-for-both-teams/ |title=University of Dubuque starting men’s, women’s NCAA D-III hockey programs for 2023-24 season, anticipating transfers from Finlandia for both teams |work=USCHO |date=April 15, 2023 |accessdate=December 8, 2023}}</ref>

| style="color:white; background:#04b604; {{box-shadow border|a|#fcae04|2px}}"|'''[[Des Moines Oak Leafs|{{color|whiteblack|Des Moines Oak Leafs}}]]'''

| [[Des MoinesUrbandale, Iowa|Des MoinesUrbandale]]

| style="color:white; background:#DC143C"|'''[[Dubuque Fighting Saints|{{color|white|Dubuque Fighting Saints (second)}}]]'''

| 1980–19811980–2001 ^†