Coralville, Iowa –The Iowa Heartlanders, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, announced rookie defensemen Ryan Wheeler and Jake Stevens agreed to terms on contracts for the 2022-23 campaign.Wheeler signed with the Heartlanders in March after completing four seasons at the University of Connecticut. At UConn from 2018-22, Wheeler posted 12 points (4g-8a) in 108 career games.
Stevens picked up one assist in 11 games with Iowa in the final month of the season after completing his NCAA career at Long Island University. Stevens posted personal-collegiate-bests of four goals and 17 points in 2021-22 with LIU. A native of Naperville, Illinois, Stevens scored 57 points (11g-46a) in five career collegiate seasons with Long Island and St. Lawrence University.. He won an ECAC conference championship with St. Lawrence in 2020-21.