USHL’s RoughRiders Suspend 2020-21 Season Due to Arena Damage

The USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders announced on Friday that the team was suspending its 2020-21 season due to damage at the team’s home venue, the ImOn Ice Arena, following a storm last month.

The team said that it will return for the 2021-22 season.

“The difficult decision was reached yesterday that the team will not be able to participate in the upcoming hockey season due to the substantial damage incurred at the ImOn Ice Arena,” the team said in a statement.

A derecho storm, which is a “widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms,” swept through Iowa on August 10.

“The property damage in the Cedar Rapids area is widespread. Our community will rebuild and recover from the storm”, said Mark Carlson, President, General Manager and Head Coach of the RoughRiders.

“The RoughRiders organization deeply appreciates all the support and loyalty from everyone on and off the ice,” the team continued in a statement. “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.

“Since 1999, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have been members of the United States Hockey League and have assisted hundreds of players in advancing their hockey careers on to the college and professional levels.  The organization also consists of youth hockey and high school hockey players and families.”