Iowa Wild to Host Olympic Speed Skater Zach Stoppelmoor

The West Des Moines native will meet fans and sign autographs before the game.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:25pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting in neon colors depicting the blurred motion of a speed skater, conveying the explosive power and speed of the sport.An Olympic speed skater's journey from Iowa inspires local fans with a display of raw athletic energy.Des Moines Today

The Iowa Wild hockey team will host U.S. Olympic speed skater Zach Stoppelmoor, a West Des Moines native, for a meet-and-greet and autograph session on the concourse before their game on Friday, April 17. Stoppelmoor is the first Iowa-born speed skater to make the U.S. Olympic team.

Why it matters

Stoppelmoor's appearance is part of the Iowa Wild's 'Fan Appreciation Weekend,' providing an opportunity for local fans to meet and interact with an Olympic athlete from their home state. His story of transitioning from inline skating to the Olympic ice skating team also highlights the growth of winter sports in the Midwest.

The details

The free event will take place on the concourse of the Iowa Wild's arena before their game on April 17. Stoppelmoor, a 26-year-old from West Des Moines, learned to rollerblade at the local Skate South rink 20 years ago before switching to ice speed skating in pursuit of his Olympic dream.

  • The Iowa Wild will host the event on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Stoppelmoor competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

The players

Zach Stoppelmoor

A 26-year-old speed skater from West Des Moines, Iowa, who is the first Iowa-born athlete to make the U.S. Olympic speed skating team.

Iowa Wild

A professional ice hockey team based in Des Moines, Iowa, that plays in the American Hockey League.

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What they’re saying

“I did inline speed skating growing up. Unfortunately, it's not in the Olympics, so the goal was always to switch to ice at some point to make the Olympic dream come true.”

— Zach Stoppelmoor

The takeaway

Stoppelmoor's appearance at the Iowa Wild game showcases the growing popularity of winter sports in the Midwest and provides an opportunity for local fans to connect with an Olympic athlete from their home state.