Photo: CTV News

The Oilers Entertainment Group announced on Thursday that Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers and the Western Conference’s hub city for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, was damaged by a “significant storm.” However, the company is optimistic Rogers Place will be ready to host the Western Conference teams on August 1.

“A significant storm came through Edmonton earlier this evening,” The Oilers Entertainment Group said in a statement issued Thursday evening. “As a result, Rogers Place has suffered some water damage to the terminus of Ford Hall, along with some smaller leaks in other parts of the building.

Video via Global News

“We are assessing the damage and at this time are confident that it will not hamper our planning and preparation and we will be ready to host the return of NHL hockey as [a] hub city.”

Heavy rain started to fall in Edmonton on Thursday afternoon and flooded at least one underpass on Whitemud Drive, a busy freeway in the city.

Wow. @RogersPlace pic.twitter.com/Py60mnBgAT

— same ol 🅽🅳, 90% more Dan (@theDanalytic) July 16, 2020

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for various parts of central Alberta on Thursday, including for Edmonton. A tornado watch was even issued by Environment Canada for some areas south of the city. The watch was still in effect shortly before 7 PM MT.

A significant storm came through #yeg earlier this evening. As a result, #RogersPlace has suffered some water damage to the terminus of Ford Hall, along with some smaller leaks in other parts of the building.

— Rogers Place (@RogersPlace) July 17, 2020

Oilers Entertainment Group spokesman Tim Shipton told the Associated Press the storm that also brought hail caused leaks in one of the entrance hallways and smaller leaks elsewhere.

“We are assessing the damage and at this time are confident that it will not hamper our planning and preparation and we will be ready to host the return of NHL hockey as hub city,” Shipton said.

Last week, an Edmonton hospital saw a little COVID-19 outbreak but that has not impacted the NHL yet at least.

This is the roof over Ford Hall, the large pedestrian bridge that goes over 104th avenue in downtown Edmonton. Not over the main rink, but also not good. At all. Yikes. https://t.co/E7lcQsy3ZX

— Tom Gazzola (@TomGazzola) July 17, 2020

Rogers Place will also host all of the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ rounds three and four.

AHHHH pic.twitter.com/GQa7CGHRQA

— Anna Junker (@JunkerAnna) July 16, 2020

By Harrison