Black Hawks Bounce Back, Some Like it Hotte

Goaltender Drew Hotte wasn’t the most likely candidate to be Saturday’s (Nov. 14, 2015) #1 star, but it was a title he earned during the Waterloo Black Hawks’ 3-2 win at Young Arena against the Lincoln Stars.

Acquired from the Minnesota Magicians earlier in the week, Hotte began the night in a backup role. He was on the bench when starter Cale Morris was shaken up with 7:28 to play. Pressed into service at the outset of a Lincoln power play, Hotte made his first of seven saves on a right point blast from Ryan Jones. His best stop while preserving the victory was a glove save on a rebound chance from the slot by Patrick Polino.

Waterloo had the lead during the latter portion of the third period thanks to a go-ahead goal by Nick Swaney at 9:09. Shortly after a power play ended, Brandon Schultz steered out of the right corner, then fed the puck to the side of the net. Georgs Golovkovs drew the attention of the defense before slipping a pass across the top of the crease to Swaney facing an open net.

The teams had exchanged first period goals. The Hawks cashed in early on a power play at 6:35; that’s when Yuri Terao dished a pass to David Cotton, who juggled it near the top of the crease before swatting a shot past Patrik Virtanen. Lincoln drew even at 12:08 on a transition passing play finished by Polino with a low chance that eluded Morris.

The game seesawed in the opposite order during the second. Lincoln took their first lead of the night at 2:04 when Adam Brady snapped a shot inside the post to the left of Morris. Waterloo answered with just 29.3 seconds remaining before intermission. Swaney’s sharp-angled chance out of the left corner was fought off by Virtanen, but with a rebound left between the circles, Ronnie Hein pounced and rifled the puck into the net.

The Hawks cap a four-game United States Hockey League home stand next Friday against the Des Moines Buccaneers. The first 500 adults in attendance will receive a Black Hawks apron, presented by the National Wild Turkey Federation, just in time for Thanksgiving. Order tickets online from waterlooblackhawks.com, or call the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.