Heartlanders name Damon as head coach

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Heartlanders announced that Derek Damon has been named Heartlanders Head Coach & General Manager. Gerry Fleming announced he will seek a coaching opportunity overseas in Europe.Damon was Iowa’s Assistant Head Coach in the 2021-22 inaugural season and helped lead Iowa to 29 wins, which included an above .500 record after December. He was also one of the masterminds behind Iowa’s power play, which finished seconnd in the league with 65 goals.

A native of Bangor, Maine, Damon made the transition to coaching during the 2020-21 season with Salmon Aarm of the British Columbia Hockey League. Prior to that, he played 784 career games over 14 professional seasons, including a stint in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades from 2006-08.

During his collegiate career, he reached four NCAA Tournaments and two Frozen Fours at the University of Maine, where he captured the Hockey East championship in 2004.