Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview

April 22, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release

Resuming on the Road

The Black Hawks split their opening playoff weekend against the Sioux Falls Stampede. The best-of-five series between the teams continues on the road Tuesday with Game Three. Game Four will also be in Sioux Falls on Wednesday. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. If the series is not settled after Wednesday, Game Five would be at Young Arena at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night. The Stampede were 23-5-2 on home ice during 2018/19. They opened the playoffs with two home wins in a first round series against the Sioux City Musketeers. If a fifth game is necessary, it will be the first time the Hawks have hosted a winner-take-all playoff game since the 2014 Clark Cup Championship series versus the Indiana Ice.

Playoffs at the Premier Center

The Black Hawks were on the ice as the opposing team for the very first game at Sioux Falls' Denny Sanford Premier Center October 11, 2014. Waterloo won that game 6-4, and the Hawks are 8-5-2 during regular season play in the USHL's largest facility. Tuesday's game will mark the first time Waterloo has visited the building for a Clark Cup playoff game. The Hawk defeated the Stampede 7-2 in a playoff matchup on April 17, 2014 during the final game at Sioux Falls Arena.

Ohrvall on the All-Time List

During Games One and Two of Waterloo's series against the Stampede, forward Emil Ohrvall recorded four assists. They were all notched in power play situations, including three successful setups on Saturday in Game Two. Ohrvall had six assists in eight appearances for the Hawks during the 2017 Clark Cup Playoffs. Now with ten career postseason assists, he is tied for tenth with seven other Waterloo skaters in the Hawks' playoff record book. His next assist would boost him into a tie for sixth. Blake Kessel is the club's career leader with 15 assists accumulated during the 2007 and 2008 playoffs.

Fear's Favorable Beginning

Evan Fear's 26-save performance on Saturday made this the third consecutive postseason in which a Black Hawks goalie has delivered a shutout. As an organization, Waterloo has notched 14 shutouts in the postseason since transitioning to an all-junior roster in 1979/80. The Hawks have held their opponents to 30 shots on goal or fewer in each of those games.

Weekly Recap

The Sioux Falls Stampede earned a 3-2 overtime victory in Game One Friday, despite goals from Matej Blumel and Griffin Ness. Blumel scored two more goals Saturday as the Hawks found the net twice in each period for a series-tying 6-0 win.

United States Hockey League Stories from April 22, 2019

• Storm Acquire Ferrandino & Griebel in Dispersal Draft - Tri-City Storm
• Pospisil Signs Entry Level Deal with the Calgary Flames - Sioux City Musketeers
• Sioux City acquires two players from the Flying Aces - Sioux City Musketeers
• Stars Select Jake Boltmann, Colby Enns in USHL Dispersal Draft - Lincoln Stars
• Lancers Add Teasdale to 2019 Roster - Omaha Lancers
• Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Gamblers Add Three in Dispersal Draft - Green Bay Gamblers
• Flying for the Hawks Now - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Saints Acquire Halliday, Villegas, Gibson in Dispersal Draft - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Fargo Force Draft Four Players in Today's Dispersal Draft - Fargo Force
• USHL Completes Dispersal Draft - USHL
• Ganske Commits to Northern Michigan - Green Bay Gamblers

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.

Other Recent Waterloo Black Hawks Stories

• Smaby Earns Coveted Coaching Role
• An Award-Winning Season
• Ending with Another Overtime
• Hawks Overcome Astounding Adversity
• Hawks Fall in Double Overtime