USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview

Published on October 10, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


You Don't Score on 100% of the Shots You Don't Take

The Black Hawks and their two weekend opponents have been short on shots. Waterloo visits the Chicago Steel on Friday at 7:05. Then the Hawks come home for the first game at Young Arena this season, a 6:05 p.m. matchup on Saturday versus the Omaha Lancers. Early this season, the Hawks, Steel, and Lancers are three of the five lowest-ranking teams in shots on goal per game. Waterloo is tied for 12th at 26.0 per contest. Omaha is next at 25.8. The Steel rank 16th with 24.3. The Lancers and Steel also currently stand 15th and 16th in shots allowed: 36.3 and 43.8 respectively. By contrast, the Hawks are in the middle of the pack for that statistic, allowing 29.8 chances, which places seventh.

Homestand Upcoming

Saturday's first game on Commercial Street will also open the team's longest homestand of the 2023/24 season. The tilt with the Lancers will be the first of five straight on home ice. In that time, the Hawks will also meet the Lincoln Stars twice, plus the Dubuque Fighting Saints and Muskegon Lumberjacks. It will be the longest stretch on home ice since an eight-game run last October and November. Waterloo produced a 7-1-0 record during that span from October 29th through November 24th. Early-season success during the homestand positioned the Hawks to remain above .500 for the remainder of 2022/23 after a 4-5-0 start.

Persistent Plus

Forward Adam Zlnka has finished each game this season with an even or positive plus/minus differential. At a cumulative +4, the native of Slovakia leads the team and actually stands as the only Black Hawk above +1. Playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede last season, Zlnka was -23. His current figure is more impressive when considering that Waterloo has been outscored in aggregate 23-13 and 18-11 at even-strength.

Save the Puck

Last weekend, Eero Butella scored his first USHL goal on Friday when the Black Hawks visited the Sioux City Musketeers. Michael Phelan and Carson Reed enjoyed the same accomplishment on the road against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Several teammates hope to hear their name called during a goal announcement soon. There are currently six Waterloo forwards and three defensemen aspiring to notch their first league goals. At least one Hawks skater has done so in every game this season.

Recent Games

The Hawks matched the Sioux City Musketeers and Sioux Falls Stampede goal-for-goal in the early stages Friday and Saturday. Once the opposition broke a 2-2 tie each night, Waterloo trailed the rest of the way. The Hawks fell to Sioux City 5-2 and in Sioux Falls 7-4.

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

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2023


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.

OurSports Central