It is devastating news to hear the announcement that the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL hockey team will be forced to cancel their entire upcoming season due to damage at their home rink, ImOn Ice, from the August 10 derecho.

Head coach, President and general manager Mark Carlson told Iowa's News Now, "the property damage in the Cedar Rapids area is widespread. Our community will rebuild and recover from the storm".  The team is suspending play for the entirety of the 2020-21 season and hopes to be back for 2021-22.

RoughRiders hockey has been one of the most exciting attractions in Cedar Rapids since the team's inception in 1999, but again, the pandemic and derecho have forced an unwanted power play on another staple of the community.

The RoughRiders statement on their own website goes on to say

The RoughRiders organization deeply appreciates all the support and loyalty from everyone on and off the ice.  We are disappointed but we will rebuild and be ready for the 2021/22 season.  We will be reaching out to all the season ticket holders and sponsors in the upcoming weeks.

This comes after the news out of Coralville, that its new Xtream Arena will be the home site, starting in 2021, for an expansion ECHL franchise.

By the time 2021 rolls around, hockey fans in the corridor will surely be hungry for the double dose of fierce competition these two teams will offer.

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