Iowa Eagles
| Iowa Eagles | |
|---|---|
 2023–24 Iowa Eagles season | |
 | |
| City | Des Moines, Iowa |
| League | NHL |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Operated | Winnipeg Jets 1972–1979 (WHA) 1979–1996 (NHL) Phoenix Coyotes 1996–2023 (NHL) Iowa Eagles 2023–present |
| Home arena | A&W Coliseum |
| Colors | Biscuit black, buzzer red, squall gray, evil orange, skyline green, neon blue, watermelon, Safety yellow |
| Owner(s) | AHP Inc. |
| General manager | Michael Feaster |
| Head coach | Brent Glitter |
| Captain | Jerome Reid |
| Media | WDMI-DT |
| Championships | |
| Division Championships | 0 |
| Conference Championships | 0 |
| Kelly Cups | 0 |
| Stanley Cups | 0 |
The Iowa Eagles are a professional ice hockey team based in Des Moines, Iowa. The Birds compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play at A&W Coliseum.
Founded on 27 December 1971, as the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association (WHA), they were one of four franchises absorbed into the NHL after the WHA had ceased operations, joining on 22 June 1979. The team moved to Phoenix on 1 July 1996, and were renamed the Phoenix Coyotes. The team was unstable under Arizona ownership, with the NHL taking over the Phoenix Coyotes franchise in 2009, when then-owner Jerry Moyes gave up the team, shortly after filing for bankruptcy. The NHL maintained control of the franchise until 2013, when they were sold to new ownership that was willing to keep the team inside the state of Arizona.
However, after several arena rejections and Alex Meruelo's arrest for sexual assault allegations during April 2023, the Coyotes were bought by AHP Sports (under the leadership of Ariel Eichhorn, James Rzeznik, and Cody Taylor) and were immediately moved to the city of Des Moines, Iowa.[1][2]
Broadcasting
Iowa Eagles games are broadcast locally in both the English and Sioux languages. As of the 2014–15 season, regional television rights to the team's regular season games are co-owned by Nickelodeon and ESPN, with games sometimes broadcast nationally on special occasions. Evan Ledda calls play-by-play, whilst Yannick Newell and Collin Rosales provide color commentary within both regional and worldwide games. Additional special guests include Brian Tewfik, Melissa Dinha, Liam Hogan, Billy Fucker, and Jonah Rzeznik.
References
- ↑ https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/professional/iowa/national-hockey-league/2023/09/12/coyotes-secretly-purchased-and-relocated-into-state-of-iowa-following-unusual-arrest-for-pornographic-fraud-charges/733419159472/
- ↑ Why did I move the Arizona Coyotes into the state of Iowa? (YouTube)
