USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Hawks Celebrate Nebraska Breakthrough

Published on April 26, 2022 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


The Waterloo Black Hawks won west of the Missouri River for the first time since the start of the 2021/22 season, defeating the Lincoln Stars 3-2 Tuesday at the Ice Box in Game Two of the best-of-three playoff series between the teams.

Prior to the matchup, Waterloo was 0-9-1 on the road against the Stars, the Tri-City Storm, and the Omaha Lancers. That included a 5-2 loss in Game One of the Hawks-Stars series. Thirty-five Tuesday saves by Emmett Croteau, and a healthy dose of early offense made the win possible.

After Lincoln had scored three times during the first period in Game One, the Hawks responded in kind during Game Two. Garrett Schifsky produced the opening goal at 6:07, setup near the top of the Stars crease after Gavin O'Connell's takeaway.

Lincoln tied the game at 7:19 when Yu Sato's shot from the left circle found its way across the goal line inside the post to Croteau's left.

Waterloo potted two - separated by just over a minute - later in the period. At 14:26, Gavin Lindberg, capitalized on a chance created behind the Stars net, with the puck going in as the goal was being dislodged. Then skating four-on-four, John Waldron fed Tucker Ness in the slot; Ness fired his chance past Kaidan Mbereko, inside the post to the goalie's stick side.

Despite lots of power play time in the second period, the two teams combined for just 10 shots on goal. The Stars accumulated 21 through 40 minutes, but they added 16 more in the third. The only one which found the net came with 3:03 to play just after Mbereko had come to the bench for an extra attacker. Luke Johnson's pass across the slot connected with Lucas Wahlin, who put it into an open side.

Both teams spent their time out during a tense closing sequence, but Waterloo hung on. Jake Schneider won a key faceoff with 31.8 seconds left and Owen Baker chased down a dump in, tying up the puck deep in the Stars' zone. Following the resulting restart with 15.4 remaining, Lincoln never reestablished possession at the Hawks' end of the ice.

Tuesday's win sets up a winner-take-all third game in Lincoln on Wednesday evening at 6:05 p.m. The team which advances from the series will meet the Sioux City Musketeers in a Western Conference Semifinal series beginning this weekend.

Waterloo 3 0 0 - 3

Lincoln 1 0 1 - 2

1st Period-1, Waterloo, Schifsky 3 (O'Connell), 6:07. 2, Lincoln, Sato 1 (Veremyev, Norris), 7:19. 3, Waterloo, Lindberg 1 (Baker, Robertson) 14:26. 4, Waterloo, Ness 1 (Waldron, Fust), 15:32. Penalties-Schifsky Wat (cross checking), 15:14; Kiecker-Olson Lin (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:14; Jeannette Wat (cross checking), 18:04.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Pierce Lin (high sticking), 1:25; Jeannette Wat (holding), 4:46; Kiecker-Olson Lin (holding), 9:44; Lindberg Wat (high sticking), 19:25.

3rd Period-5, Lincoln, Wahlin 3 (Johnson, Norris), 16:57. Penalties-Marcellus Lin (tripping), 4:46; Wahlin Lin (tripping), 7:04; O'Connell Wat (checking from behind), 8:49.

Shots on Goal-Waterloo 10-3-5-18. Lincoln 14-7-16-37.

Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 0 / 4; Lincoln 0 / 4.

Goalies-Waterloo, Croteau (37 shots-35 saves). Lincoln, Mbereko (18 shots-15 saves).

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 26, 2022


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