Weber, originally from western Iowa, moved to Cedar Rapids four years ago and is a big fan of the United States Hockey League's Rough Riders. He said he makes it to three or four games per season in Des Moines, but also tries to get to St. Paul for another five or six games.
He never played on ice, but grew up playing in-line hockey and has always been a fan of the sport.
"Hockey is the best in person," Weber said. "I love all the other sports, but in hockey, it never stops. It's such a small rink, you can see everything that's going on. But the players are also more recognizable and relatable. You feel like you know players more because you can see how they play."
Weber said he was preparing to meet up with several of his buddies, who only a few years ago knew next to nothing about the sport.
"They didn't care about hockey before the Iowa Wild was here," Weber said. "We talk a lot about hockey now. They've always lived here, went to a game and thought they'd just check it out. Now, they're diehard Iowa fans and they're excited to see the big club."
Melissa Hastert and Michael Bellinghausen from West Des Moines are regular Iowa Wild game attendees but have never been to St. Paul to see the NHL club.
Both are native Iowans and don't follow the Minnesota Wild much, but fell in love going to games since the American Hockey League came to town in 2013.
They began attending games in person last season, with the 28-year-old Hastert going to the first hockey game of her life. Bellinghausen estimated they went to about a dozen Iowa games last season.
"He took me to my first game and I liked it, so we just kept coming back," Hastert said. "It's very fast-paced with a lot of action, so that was pretty enjoyable. The fights are always good too."
Bellinghausen said he's attended Des Moines Buccaneers games with his brother in the past, so when the Wild arrived in Des Moines, it wasn't a foreign concept. Hastert has had so much fun at Wild games, the couple also goes to USHL games as well.
Had tickets to the game Wednesday not been included in their season ticket package with Iowa, they may not have been in the building, they said. But both Bellinghausen and Hastert admitted the novelty of watching an NHL game in their own back yard piqued their curiosity.
"We were interested in seeing an NHL] game played," Bellinghausen said. "To have a [NHL] game played here in Iowa, it's actually really cool."
Added Hastert: "Hopefully they come back."
**Related:**
- [Hockey history in Des Moines dates back more than six decades
- Iowa Wild benefits from state's under-the-radar hockey tradition
