Sunday, November 19, 2023

Iowa Heartlanders Add Ex Vipers Coughlin & Tufto To Opening Night Roster:

Former Vernon Vipers forwards Liam Coughlin & Odeen Tufto are two of

twenty six players added to the ECHL Iowa Heartlanders Opening Night Roster.

Here is the press release from the Iowa Heartlanders website,


Coughlin was recently added to the Heartlanders training camp roster, is entering his first season with the ECHL Iowa Heartlanders, signing as a free agent August 14th 2023. 

Coughlin played the past two seasons with the ECHL Worcester Railers. Coughlin signed with the Railers as a free agent August 3rd 2021. In 52 games last season, Coughlin collected (10-goals-12-assists-22-points).

During the 2021-22 season Coughlin was called up to the American Hockey League, playing with the Bridgeport Islanders, Springfield Thunderbirds & Providence Bruins before being returned to the ECHL/Worcester Railers.

Coughlin played four seasons at Vermont University from 2015-2019 before signing his first professional contract with the American Hockey League Rockford IceHogs May 19th 2019.

Coughlin was drafted 130th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in Round 5 at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Coughlin didn't play a game with the Oilers, was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks July 6th 2015. Coughlin has yet to play a game with the Blackhawks.

Coughlin played two seasons in Vernon from 2013-2015. In 107 games with the Vipers, Coughlin collected (38-goals-67-assists-105-points).

Liam Coughlin's Player Profile:


Tufto was recently added to the Hertlanders training camp roster, is entering his first season with the ECHL Iowa Heartlanders, after signing as a free agent July 14th 2023.

Tufto played last season with the ECHL Atlanta Gladiators and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) Krefeld Pinguine. The Pinguine is a professional ice hockey team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga hockey league. Their home is Krefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Tufto started the 2022-23 season with the the American Hockey League Tucson Roadrunners. Tufto never played a single game with the Roadrunners was assigned to the  ECHL Atlanta Gladiators December 17th 2022. Tufto played 12 games with the Gladiators before heading to Germany. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning decided in July 2022 not to make a qualifying offer to Tufto who was a restricted free agent signed with the American Hockey League Tucson Roadrunners August 31st 2022. 

Tufto split the 2021-22 season between the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears & American Hockey League Syracuse Crunch.

Tufto played four seasons at Quinnipiac University from 2017-2021 before signing his first professional contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning March 31st 2021. The Lightning assigned Tufto to the American Hockey League Syracuse Crunch after his college season ended in 2021. Tufto has yet to play for the Lightning.

Tufto played one season in Vernon with the 2015-16 Vernon Vipers. In 57 games with the Vipers, Tufto collected (25-goals-40-assists-65-points). Tufto left the Vipers after one season for the United States Hockey League. Tufto played one season in the USHL with Fargo, Tri-City & Sioux City before committing to Quinnipiac University for the 2017-18 season.

Odeen Tufto's Player Profile:

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