Board of Governors approves Iowa’s Transfer of Controlling Interest

The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the League’s Board of Governors has approved the Transfer of Controlling Interest in the Iowa Heartlanders Membership from Deacon Sports and Entertainment to Heartlanders Hockey, LLC, an entity controlled by Michael Devlin. “On behalf of our Board of Governors, the League is proud to welcome Michael Devlin into the ECHL with his experienced business background and commitment to hockey in the state of Iowa,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “Combining the synergies of the Heartlanders in conjunction with his ownership of the USHLL's Des Moines Buccaneers, we are excited to see the growth of hockey through his leadership in the region, welcoming a new wave of fans to the Xtreme Arena.” Devlin has several years of history in Iowa and is the lead owner of the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. In his time with the Buccaneers, Devlin has overseen numerous projects aimed at expanding the Buccaneers’ footprint in the Hawkeye State and building strong community relationships. Devlin is a graduate of Boston College where he played flanker on the Boston College Rugby Football Club.

"I am honored to join the Heartlanders family and help build a rich hockey culture in our community. My top goal is to create a winning environment to make our fans proud. Additionally, we plan to continue to deepen the already strong connection the Heartlanders have forged in this community with their fans and partners. We are committed to working closely with businesses in the community and offering them beneficial and unique opportunities to create a strong brand presence for the Heartlanders. Together, we can build a prosperous and thriving hockey culture in eastern Iowa." About the ECHL Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces for its 36th season in 2023-24. There have been 740 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 13 who have made their NHL debut in the 2022-23 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 28 of the 32 NHL teams in 2022-23, marking the 26th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.