USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Hawks Play for USA at 2019 WJAC

Published on November 19, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - Three Waterloo Black Hawks players and two coaches were named to the U.S. Junior Select Team revealed by USA Hockey Tuesday ahead of the 2019 World Junior A Challenge beginning December 7th in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

Forward Connor Caponi will return for a second appearance at the event after helping the United States win gold in 2018. Forward Ryder Rolston and goaltender Logan Stein will also compete. Black Hawks Associate Head Coach Shane Fukushima and Strength and Conditioning Coach Spenser Popinga were named to the American staff; both participated last season when the competition was in Bonnyville, Alberta.

Caponi currently leads the Black Hawks with seven goals, including three game-winning scores. He is one of just five players league-wide with multiple shorthanded goals in 2019/20. Last season, Caponi had one assist in six World Junior A Challenge games. The 19-year-old announced his commitment to the University of Denver earlier this fall.

Rolston is tied for Waterloo's team lead with 13 points (six goals, seven assists) through 15 games. He is also tied for the league lead with 59 shots on goal. A veteran of various international hockey competitions while skating for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, Rolston has been classified as a "B" prospect for the 2020 National Hockey League Draft by NHL Central Scouting. He is committed to Notre Dame.

Stein will be the first Black Hawks goalie to appear in the event since Cal Petersen in 2013. Spending his second season in Waterloo, Stein is 5-3-0 this year. The Ferris State recruit is the only league goaltender with multiple shutouts (two). He currently leads the USHL with 1.93 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.

Fukushima is in his 14th season with the Black Hawks organization. This is the third time he has been chosen for the U.S. Junior Select Team staff. Popinga joined the Hawks in 2013/14 and is making his second trip to Canada for this event.

The World Junior A Challenge has been held annually since 2006, with the U.S. first fielding a team for the 2007 edition. The United States has earned a medal in each year the country has participated, including gold eight times. This season, the World Junior Challenge will include two Canadian entries (Canada East and Canada West), plus teams from Russia and Czech Republic. The event runs from December 7th to 15th.

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2019


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.

OurSports Central