A Dandy Start to December

December 6, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release

Three second period goals within a ten-minute span vaulted the Waterloo Black Hawks past the Tri-City Storm to a 4-1 win Thursday evening at Young Arena.

Following a scoreless - and very evenly played - opening period, the Black Hawks seized control of the contest in the second. Waterloo outshot the Storm 19-7 in the middle frame, breaking the 0-0 deadlock on a Zach Sanford redirection from the top of the crease at 8:47. Just 1:08 later, the Hawks built the lead when Mark Friedman stepped into the zone and snapped a shot from the left circle over the glove of Jacob Johansson. The final marker of the second pushed Waterloo's lead to three goals at 18:15, when Brandon Montour blasted a puck from the deep slot past the stick side of Johansson.

Scoring was halted again for most of the final period, until each team broke through for a power play goal in the final five minutes of regulation. With 4:10 to play, Joel L'Esperance knocked in a rebound to blemish Mathias Israelsson's shutout bid. However, the Storm substituted an extra attacker for Johansson while they went shorthanded in the final minute, and Blake Winiecki capitalized with an empty net goal as 29.8 seconds showed on the clock.

Israelsson made 24 saves, including ten in a relatively busy third. Waterloo outshot Tri-City 41-25 during the affair. The decision was P.K. O'Handley's 519th regular season victory, moving him past former Sioux City Musketeers and Des Moines Buccaneers Head Coach Bob Ferguson for third place in USHL history.

After a night off Friday, the Black Hawks return to action on Saturday for a Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup clash against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on the road at Mystique Ice Center. The final home game prior to Christmas at Young Arena will be on December 14th versus the National Team Development Program Under-17's.

United States Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2013

• Bucs Goalie Ruck Holds off Late Storm Rally - Tri-City Storm
• Whammy: Saints Score Four in Third to Beat USA 6-2 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Piccinich Pick up a Pair, But Phantoms Bend to Steel in OT - Youngstown Phantoms
• Lancers Outlast Force 1-0 In Bruns' 7th Shutout - Omaha Lancers
• Indiana Topples Muskegon with Big Second Period on Special Teams - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Ice Mill Lumberjacks 4-3 in Special-Teams Shootout - Indiana Ice
• Musketeers Acquire Defenseman Jared Rosbur from Cedar Rapids - Sioux City Musketeers
• Ryan Schwepfinger Joines Youngstown as New "Voice of the Phantoms" - Youngstown Phantoms
• A Dandy Start to December - Waterloo Black Hawks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Waterloo Black Hawks Stories

• Gibson Is New Waterloo GM
• Smaby Earns Coveted Coaching Role
• An Award-Winning Season
• Ending with Another Overtime
• Hawks Overcome Astounding Adversity