USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Three Waterloo Players Picked for International Event

Published on November 16, 2022 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - Three Waterloo Black Hawks players have been chosen by USA Hockey to represent the country during the World Junior A Challenge next month in Cornwall, Ontario. A 21-man roster for the U.S. Junior Select Team was revealed on Wednesday.

Forwards Garrett Schifsky and Gavin Lindberg will skate up front during the event, as defenseman Sam Rinzel patrols the blue line for the American squad. The competition will begin December 10th and continue through the 18th. In addition to the trio of Black Hawks players, Waterloo will also be represented by Matt Smaby and Spenser Popinga, who will serve respectively as assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach/equipment manager.

Schifsky is in his second full season with the Black Hawks. The University of Michigan recruit leads Waterloo with seven goals and is currently tied for the team points lead (12), while earning a +5 plus/minus differential over the first 13 games. Last season, Schifsky paced the Hawks with 46 points and 28 goals, highlighted by five game-winners, eight on the power play, and three shorthanded. Three more goals would give him 40 during the regular season in his USHL career.

Lindberg is Waterloo's current co-scoring leader with 12 points (four goals, eight assists). He also is tied for second on the team in plus/minus (+7). Committed to Colorado College, Lindberg joined the Black Hawks during the latter part of the 2021/22 season, appearing in 13 games with one goal and one assist. During six additional Clark Cup Playoff games, he scored twice and finished the postseason with three points.

Rinzel is also a fulltime Black Hawk in 2022/23 after being with the team for part of last season. Over 21 appearances in 2021/22, Rinzel notched two goals and eight assists. Coupled with his performance at Chaska (MN) High School, the Chicago Blackhawks selected him in the First Round - 25th overall - during the 2022 NHL Draft. In 13 USHL games this season, Rinzel has a goal and six assists, including a team-leading six power play points. He is a future Minnesota Gopher

The World Junior A Challenge began in 2006, with U.S. participation starting the following year. All 21 players selected to participate today are from the USHL.

In addition to the United States, participating teams will represent Latvia, Sweden, and both eastern and western Canada. Cornwall, Ontario, was originally scheduled to host the World Junior A Challenge in 2020 and 2021, but both were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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