Iowa

Iowa is a state in the Midwestern United States.

Its population is almost 3,200,000.

Its capital and largest city is Des Moines.

History of hockey in Iowa

see also: Iowa Amateur Hockey (1946-1962)

The winters of the early 1880s were harsh in Iowa, providing favorable conditions for activities on the ice. An English-born carpenter, John T. Adams, along with his family, arrived in the small town of Le Mars (referred to as LeMars in contemporary references) from Bayfield, Ontario, in 1882. He built a wooden-framed structure around the local ice and roller skating rinks, sheltering them from the elements. The ice rink immediately became popular after its opening in 1883, hosting speed skating competitions and masquerade balls on skates. On January 12, 1884, there was an ice hockey game played at the rink between Le Mars and a team from the neighboring town of Seney. Games were played in Le Mars annually between 1884 and 1886. In 1889 it was reported that the LeMars hockey team had decided to issue challenges for a match game between Pipestone and Sibley.

There was a hockey game played between the Riverside Boat Club and Sioux City Boat Club on January 30, 1895, which ended in a 1-1 tie. The teams met again on February 3, Riverside winning 3-1 in a game that only lasted 45 minutes, as a Sioux City player got injured. The Des Moines Hockey League was formed in 1904, Hopkins Bros., Globes, Riverside, and Wild Rose participating. The Sioux City Hockey League was founded for 1923-24. LeMars had a strong team throughout much of the 1920s and 1930s. The Waterloo American Legion fielded a team from 1927-1930, facing squads from around the Midwest, and even Manitoba. Cedar Rapids also began play in 1930.

The Iowa State AAU Tournament was first played in 1939. On April 8, 1951, the United States National Junior Championship final was played at the Sioux City Municipal Auditorium, the Western All-Stars defeating the Stoneham (MA) Shamrocks 10-8. The Sioux City Suhawks played in the American Amateur Hockey League in 1951-52. The team folded after the one season. There was a game played in Sioux City on March 28, 1953, the Minneapolis Millers beating the St. Paul Saints 9-1. Sioux City formed an amateur team called the Ramblers for the 1953-54 season. They lost 16-3 to the Rochester (MN) Colts on January 17. Some US Central Hockey League games were played at the Des Moines Veterans Memorial Auditorium from 1956-1958, and in Sioux City in 1956 and 1957.

The Des Moines Ice Hawks played in the United States Central Hockey League from 1958-1961. The Des Moines Oak Leafs were members of the United States Hockey League from 1961-1963 and the International Hockey League from 1963-1972. The Iowa Stars, based in Waterloo, spent the 1969-70 season in the IHL. The Des Moines Capitols had a franchise in the IHL from 1972-1975. The Sioux City Eagles played an independent amateur schedule from 1964-1972. The Des Moines Golden Leafs were active as an independent amateur team from 1969-1972.

The Waterloo Black Hawks have played in the United States Hockey League (previously semi-pro and junior since 1979) since 1962, the Sioux City Musketeers have been in it since 1972, the Des Moines Buccaneers since 1980, and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders since 1999 (previously the North Iowa Huskies in Mason City from 1983-1999). The Iowa Stars (Chops in 2009), based in Des Moines, played in the American Hockey League from 2005-2009. The Iowa Wild have been members of the AHL since 2013. The Iowa Heartlanders joined the ECHL in 2021.

List of minor pro franchises

• Sioux City Suhawks - (1951-1952) - (AAHL)
• Des Moines Ice Hawks - (1958-1961) - (USCHL)
• Des Moines Oak Leafs - (1961-1963) - (USHL)
• Des Moines Oak Leafs - (1963-1972) - (IHL)
• Iowa Stars - (1969-1970) - (CHL)
• Des Moines Capitols - (1972-1975) - (IHL)
• Iowa Stars - (2005-2008) - (AHL)
• Iowa Chops - (2008-2009) - (AHL)
• Iowa Wild - (2013-present) - (AHL)
• Iowa Heartlanders - (2021-present) - (ECHL)

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