USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview

Published on February 7, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


As West As It Gets

The Waterloo Black Hawks go to central Nebraska for matchups with the Tri-City Storm on Friday and Saturday. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. This season, the Hawks' only other trip to Kearney was on Sunday, January 8th. Gennadi Chaly scored twice and Ben Robertson had three assists during a 7-2 Black Hawks victory. Last weekend, the Hawks and Storm each played three times in a three-day span, and both clubs came away with a pair of victories. This week, both Waterloo and Tri-City made trades with the Omaha Lancers. Waterloo added veteran defenseman Nate Benoit, while the Storm acquired forward Alex Bump.

10 Players, 20 Points

The Black Hawks scored 15 times in last week's games against the Dubuque Fighting Saints and Fargo Force. The balanced attack included at least one point from 16 different Hawks. In the process, Waterloo became the first team in the United States Hockey League this season to have 10 players who have scored 20 or more points for the club. The tally does not include Miko Matikka (35 of his 41 points were recorded for the Madison Capitols). Last season, the Hawks had just 11 players with 20 points at the end of the 62-game schedule.

A Little Extra

A 4-3 overtime win versus the Fargo Force last Saturday was the Black Hawks' seventh overtime game this season. Waterloo has won them all: four during the extra five minute period and the other three in shootouts. No other club has more victories beyond the end of regulation in 2022/23. Relative to past Hawks squads, the 2019/20 team also picked up seven overtime or shootout wins. The last time Waterloo celebrated more successful overtimes was in 2016/17 (nine).

Comebacks Becoming Common

By rallying to win after facing a 2-1 second intermission deficit last Saturday, the Black Hawks have now recovered for victory five times when trailing after 40 minutes. It was an achievement which Waterloo only enjoyed four times in all of 2021/22. During the USHL's Tier 1 era, the only other season when the Hawks have won five times on nights when they trailed going to the third period was in 2007/08. Current Waterloo Assistant Coach Brett Olson was the captain of that team.

Recent Games

Ben Robertson had five points (one goal, four assists) to match the highest-scoring individual performance in the league this season as Waterloo defeated Dubuque 7-3 Thursday. The Hawks stumbled in a 7-4 home loss to Fargo the next evening. However on Saturday, Gavin O'Connell scored twice in the third period, then set up Sam Rinzel's overtime winner during a rematch which finished 4-3.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2023


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