USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview

Published on November 19, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


In and Out of Town

For the fourth consecutive week, the Waterloo Black Hawks will play one home and one road game. Friday's matchup at Young Arena is against the National Team Development Program Under-18's. That portion of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Team USA organization has not been defeated in regulation by a USHL opponent, while averaging 5.8 goals per game in nine contests. In addition, the U-18's resume also includes a victory against NCAA Division I foe Lake Superior State. Saturday, the Hawks travel to meet the Lincoln Stars; it will be Waterloo's last visit to the Ice Box this season. The Hawks outdistanced the Stars 5-1 there on October 11th.

New Number

John Wiitala scored his first goal in his new jersey number on Saturday versus the Omaha Lancers. Wiitala began his USHL career wearing #27 last year, but switched to #10 in the offseason. His tally with 1:15 remaining in the second period made the score 3-1 and proved to be decisive when the Hawks closed out a 3-2 victory. It was the Lakeville, Minnesota native's first career game-winning goal. Through 13 games, Wiitala now has six points and is +3. Last year, he had 11 points in 51 appearances with a -10 rating. Wiitala is also shooting the puck more; he has put 23 shots on goal already, compared with 78 in all of 2012/13.

One Quarter

Saturday's win versus Omaha concluded the first 25% of the Black Hawks' schedule. Despite having spent more time on the road than at home, the Hawks have taken 22 of 30 possible points. Waterloo has matched the pace of last season's squad, which went 12-4-0 through the first quarter of a 64-game slate. Many of this year's early contests have been particularly meaningful to the standings; nine of the first 15 Hawks' games have been against opponents from the USHL Western Conference, and Waterloo owns a 7-2-0 mark in those matchups.

Annett is Promoted

While Black Hawks alumni Chad Billins and J.T. Brown have been called up during the opening months of the NHL season, former Waterloo defenseman Michael Annett learned that he would be moving up next year. The hockey player-turned-race care driver will climb from the Nationwide to Sprint Cup series - the highest level of NASCAR - in 2014. Annett finished 15th on the Nationwide circuit in 2013, his fifth fulltime year at that level. In 163 career Nationwide races, Annett finished in the top five on seven occasions, all in the last two years.

Weekly Recap

The Black Hawks came from behind to defeat the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday, 4-3 in a shootout. Patrick Russell scored the game-tying goal with under three minutes to play. He added another goal Saturday, as did Tyler Sheehy and John Wiitala during a 3-2 home win versus the Omaha Lancers.

For complete box scores from previous Black Hawks games, visit ushl.com.

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2013


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