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NOV/DEC 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 51 1-888-966-1980 CHEHOCKEY.COM YOUTH & ADULT TOURNAMENTS YOUTH & ADULT TOURNAMENTS BOSTON, MA CHARLESTON, SC FT. LAUDERDALE, FL LAS VEGAS, NV LAKE PLACID, NY NASHVILLE, TN SCOTTSDALE, AZ BOSTON, MA CHARLESTON, SC FT. LAUDERDALE, FL LAS VEGAS, NV LAKE PLACID, NY NASHVILLE, TN SCOTTSDALE, AZ PLUS 8 OTHER LOCATIONS PLUS 8 OTHER LOCATIONS night a lot of fun." In recent years, the Black Hawks and RoughRiders have played a home-and-home series with Friday off in between. That enables both teams to have an early morning practice and the rest of the day to celebrate the holiday with family. The 90-minute trek north to Waterloo gives RoughRiders fans an opportunity to include the game in their Thanksgiving plans, too. The distance between the Iowa communities makes it an attractive weekend for players' families to catch both games in the series and enjoy quality time with their sons. Their billet families adjust their schedules, celebrating the holiday as early as Wednesday night and as late as Sunday after- noon. "Playing in that game, in one of the best rivalries in the USHL, 100% makes it easier to not be home for Thanksgiving, because it gives you something to really look forward to," Cedar Rapids defenseman Joe Fenton said. "It was tough my rookie year not being home for some holidays. All of us boys love being home with our families on Thanksgiving. But being together in that environment is the next-best thing. It's definitely better than sitting at home and sulking a little bit because you're not home. It's great having that as a distraction. "I've been able to play in two of them, and it's just an awesome atmosphere because of the huge crowd and the hostile environ- ment. It's a lot of fun. I know we always have an extra gear that night. It's a lot different than the other times we play them during the regular season because it's such a special night." P A behind-the-scenes look with the Foligno family last Thanksgiving. USHL FEATURE Thanksgiving With Nick Foligno IIHF Vice President Watch: Road to the Discover NHL Winter Classic: Foligno's Thanksgiving DIGITAL BONUS CONTENT