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Storm Ready for New Season

Team President Brian Rothenberger and Head Coach Dave Pszenyczny during Storm media day
WVIK News
Team President Brian Rothenberger and Head Coach Dave Pszenyczny during Storm media day

After a long delay caused by the pandemic, hockey returns to the Quad Cities this weekend. The Storm will play their first game in the Southern Professional Hockey League since COVID abruptly ended the season in March of last year.

Coach Dave Pszenyczny says he and the players went a little stir crazy during the long break. And fortunately nearly all of the players from the team in 2020 have returned.

"So that helps with system work, we're not having to break everything down. Guys that don't know it are catching on pretty quick. So I think we have that advantage there too but at the end of the day we look good on paper but it's not going to make a difference until we get out there and see some real competition."

Team President Brian Rothenberger says missing a season has been hard on the Storm financially, but nearly all of the season ticket holders and corporate sponsors have returned.

"But as far as the loyalty that we have seen from our corporate partners and our season ticket members, it is beyond what we had even hoped for - it's been pretty incredible."

The new season for the Storm and the SPHL opens this weekend when the Quad Cities will host Evansville on Friday and Saturday nights.

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.