ECHL Approves Application for Hockey Team in Coralville

It was announced back in September, but a press release distributed on Tuesday confirms the approval of Coralville's application to the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). The Coralville ECHL Member Club will be owned and operated by Deacon Sports and Entertainment and is expected to begin to play at the newly-completed Xtream Arena with the 2021-22 season.

Further details such as team name, logo, and ticket pricing will be communicated at a later date, but the chairman of Deacon Sports and Entertainment, Dean McDonald, expressed his enthusiasm in bringing the ECHL to Coralville with a statement, saying "we are excited to bring professional hockey to Coralville". The mayor of Coralville, John Lundell, echoed his excitement. "We look forward to a long-standing and successful partnership with Dean and his organization that will provide entertainment for our families, friends, and neighbors. I know both existing and future hockey fans from Coralville and across Iowa will enjoy the level of competition and rich history associated with the ECHL".

A website has already been launched, where fans can get information, suggest a team name, and become a "Founding Fan" by making a $50 deposit toward a season membership. According to its website, "the ECHL is a recognized minor league system for the NHL, with 25 current affiliations with NHL franchises."

We'll have many more details as the new team and season unfold.

Meanwhile, ImOn Ice continues to recover and repair from the August 10 derecho, and the home of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders should be ready for a return next season as well. The team opted out of USHL play this season, but now hockey fans in the Corridor have yet another team to root for.