USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Hilman, Hawks Hit Jackpot

February 9, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Myles Hilman scored three times, and the Waterloo Black Hawks extended their winning streak to five games by topping the Green Bay Gamblers 5-4 at Young Arena Friday.

The hat trick was the fourth by a Black Hawk and Hilman's second in 2023/24. The winning streak is a season-best after Waterloo had won four consecutive games on three previous occasions. Friday's result also draws the Hawks within three points of the Sioux City Musketeers for second place in the USHL Western Conference.

Hilman gave the Hawks a lead 3:49 into the game. Jakub Altrichter brought the puck to the top of the crease out of the right corner. The former Gambler couldn't let go of a shot, but Hilman was on the spot to put the puck in off the post.

Green Bay scored the next two. Lev Katzin stole a clearing attempt and zipped to the net for a chance, which created William Hughes' rebound score at 10:45. Then at 13:03, Julian Lutz added a power play goal, rifling the puck to the short side from near the right faceoff dot.

The Hawks thought they had tied it on Hilman's shorthanded breakaway with 1:20 to go, but a review confirmed his shot hit the post.

Hilman was undaunted and notched the next Hawks goal at 10:06 of the second. Zigzagging puck movement resulted from passes between Gavyn Thoreson and Gavin Lindberg before a feed came to Hilman, who lifted in his try from the left edge of the crease.

Green Bay took their last lead by scoring in transition at 11:59 when Lutz set up Jayson Shaugabay for a sharp-angled chance below the left circle.

Waterloo had the rest of the offense in the second. Hilman completed his hat trick at 13:59 batting a bounding puck that came his way from behind the Gambler net. Then Lindberg gave the Hawks a 4-3 lead, bulling his way to the crease out of the left corner and stuffing a shot past Adam Gajan.

The three second period Hawks goals came on 25 shots.

Griffin Erdman added a key insurance goal in the third. One day before his 19th birthday, Erdman leaned in from the right hash mark to fire a chance under the crossbar, set up by Fin Williams and Reid Morich.

The Gamblers played most of the final three minutes with a sixth attacker, and Charlie Russell converted a rebound opportunity with 59.6 seconds to go. However, the Gamblers could not draw even before time expired. Calvin Vachon made his 26th and final save moments before time expired.

Friday's tilt brought a four-game Waterloo homestand to its conclusion. The Hawks go on the road Saturday to visit the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Green Bay 2 1 1 - 4

Waterloo 1 3 1 - 5

1st Period-1, Waterloo, Hilman 16 (Altrichter, Townsend), 3:49. 2, Green Bay, Hughes 10 (Katzin), 10:45. 3, Green Bay, Lutz 13 (DeAngelo, Poitras), 13:03 (PP). Penalties-Fascia Wat (cross checking), 11:45; Felicio Wat (slashing), 18:32.

2nd Period-4, Waterloo, Hilman 17 (Lindberg, Thoreson), 10:06 (PP). 5, Green Bay, Shaugabay 9 (Lutz, Nemec), 11:59. 6, Waterloo, Hilman 18 (Altrichter, Townsend), 14:05. 7, Waterloo, Lindberg 13 (Miller, Thoreson), 16:00. Penalties-Romaine Gb (slashing), 0:56; Altrichter Wat (cross checking), 1:29; Poitras Gb (interference), 4:25; Peterson Gb (hooking), 8:27; DeAngelo Gb (roughing), 19:57.

3rd Period-8, Waterloo, Erdman 12 (Williams, Morich), 6:41. 9, Green Bay, Russell 4 (Katzin, Romaine), 19:01. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Green Bay 10-10-10-30. Waterloo 7-25-9-41.

Power Play Opportunities-Green Bay 1 / 3; Waterloo 1 / 4.

Goalies-Green Bay, Gajan 16-7-2-1 (41 shots-36 saves). Waterloo, Vachon 17-6-0-0 (30 shots-26 saves).

A-2,714

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2024


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