Smith Catches USHL Attention
December 23, 2008 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Craig Smith used a four-point effort against Indiana Saturday to become the latest Black Hawk to win USHL Player of the Week recognition. Smith earned the league's Offensive Player of the Week honor; he is the fifth different Black Hawk to win Offensive, Defensive, or Goaltending weekly honors in 2008-2009. The two goals and two assists matched Smith's best point production in a single-game, set on December 13th against Tri City.
For the season, the Black Hawk captain now has 14 goals and 17 assists, for the third-highest point total in the USHL. In 20 games, he has surpassed his production from all of last season (58 games, 13 goals, ten assists).
It's Been Awhile
Prior to the 10-3 Black Hawks win Saturday, it had been almost exactly six years since Waterloo had seen double-digits on the Young Arena scoreboard.
On December 31, 2002, the Hawks used a five-goal first period to race to an 11-5 win against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Joe Pavelski had four points in the game; he and Trevor Stewart each had a pair of goals. Before that New Years' Eve romp, the Black Hawks had previously hit the ten-goal mark in a 12-7 barnburner against the Chicago Steel on March 23, 2001.
Lots of Plus-Side
Craig Smith and Ryan Hill both worked for +5 ratings on Saturday and were among twelve Black Hawk skaters who were positive. The +5 mark matched Smith and Hill with Kyle Flannigan of Cedar Rapids for the best plus-minus figure during a USHL game this season. The Hawks now have the league's top three positive players (Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Patrick Wey, and Smith) and eight of the top 20.
Lots of Contributors
Eight different Black Hawks scored a goal Saturday. Only the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders have had so many different players find the net on the same night this season. Cedar Rapids did it on November 29th in a 9-2 win against Des Moines. The Black Hawks last had eight different players score in one game on April 7, 2007 in a 9-4 win against Chicago.
This Week
The Black Hawks are off until New Years' Eve when they meet the Chicago Steel at Young Arena.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 23, 2008
- Smith Catches USHL Attention - Waterloo Black Hawks
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