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USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Core vets return to Blackhawks

April 5, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - With less than one month before their first game of the season, the Iowa Blackhawks, Council Bluffs' indoor professional football team, have announced the return of seven seasoned veterans for the 2009 season which begins on Saturday, April 25th at the Mid-America Center.

Linebacker Chris Moore (5'10", 215), a perennial all-star; Quarterback Chuck Wright (6'2", 225), the teams all-time leading passer; Defensive back Scott Yates (5'11", 205), who has the most interceptions in team history, will join offensive lineman Tyrice Ellebb (6'3", 360), defensive end Ryan Hoden (6'2", 275), and versatile performers Mike Stuart (WR, 5'11", 190) and Burton Bosan (DB, 5'8", 180) as those who should be impact players for the Blackhawks, who look to be a team to beat in the American Professional Football League (APFL) this season.

Moore, Wright, Yates and Ellebb are all in the second year of long-term contracts with the Blackhawks and have served as ambassadors for the organization over the years by making public appearances and speaking at schools in southwest Iowa and northeast Nebraska. Chris Moore recently spoke to the Atlantic, Iowa elementary school students as a part of their ‘Just Say No' program.

Moore, a C.B. Thomas Jefferson graduate, has been voted the APFL's Defensive Player of the Year in past seasons. A sturdy 215-pounder, Moore is agile and aggressive, and looks to lead the Blackhawks for a full season after missing time in 2008 with a nagging injury. MOORE

Wright has been with the organization since 2004, and has thrown for more than 4,500 yards and 93 touchdowns; he is annually one of the top passers in the APFL, and is the leader of the offense. Yates, who coaches football and track at Elk Horn-Kimballton High School, has intercepted 12 passes since 2005, and is the premier free safety in the league.

Ellebb has been with the Blackhawks for five seasons, and been a league all-star on both sides of the football. Ellebb is also a YMCA youth mentor in the Omaha area. Ellebb is extremely mobile for a player his size. Hoden, another C.B. Thomas Jefferson grad, has been with Iowa since 2007 and gives defenders a handful with his speed and strength from the defensive end position.

Stuart, meanwhile, is a triple threat - running, receiving and returning the ball. In 2008 he was the second leading scorer on the season with nine touchdowns and 54 points. Playing since 2006, Stuart's role has increased every season, and the team is looking for a break out season. ELLEBB

Bosan returned to the Blackhawks late last season after a brief stint with the Omaha Beef, and like Stuart, adds another dimension to the Blackhawks with his speed and athletic skills. Bosan has played cornerback on defense, receiver on offense, and has been a crowd favorite since joining the Blackhawks in 2006.

"We're expecting big things from the team (in 2009), and looking to win the APFL championship." spoke Yates. "We have a nice blend of veterans and youth. It should be a successful season, and hope the good people of southwest Iowa and the Council Bluffs area come out and support us this season."

The Blackhawks will be kicking off their sixth season of indoor professional football at the Mid-America Center on Saturday, April 25th versus the Nebraska Tornadoes. Season tickets are available now and can be purchased by visiting www.iowablackhawks.com or by calling their office at (712) 256.6180. Single game tickets are also now available for purchase at the Mid-America Center's box office or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

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