On September 17, 2020, Newfoundland Growlers' majority owner Dean MacDonald (through his group Deacon Sports and Entertainment) came to an agreement with the city of Coralville to place an ECHL team in Xtream Arena, pending league approval, for the 2021–22 season.

[1] On January 12, 2021, the team was approved by the ECHL Board of Governors to join the league for the 2021–22 season.

[6] On October 22, 2021, the Heartlanders played their first game against the Kansas City Mavericks and won 7–4 at home with more than 4000 in attendance.

In the summer of 2022, former head coach Gerry Fleming accepted an opportunity in the DEL (top German pro league) with a club in Frankfurt, Germany.

13, 2024, the Heartlanders sold out Xtream Arena for the first time ever, in a 7-4 romp over the Kansas City Mavericks to conclude the season on a high note.