Black Hawks Drill Steel For 7 and Win

The Waterloo Black Hawks broke open a close game Friday, January 23, 2015 by scoring four times in the second period, keying a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Steel at Young Arena.

The Hawks blitzed the Steel with a plethora of chances in the opening minutes of the contest, but a turnover near the top of the left wing circle allowed Chicago’s Tanner Laczynski to score the opening goal unassisted at 5:41.

Waterloo answered less than two minutes later at 7:19; in motion behind the Steel net, Tom Novak slipped a puck into the goalmouth, to be jabbed between the pipes by Max Coatta. With the same line on the ice, the Black Hawks took the lead at 16:30. Henrik Rommel set up a Novak wrist shot from the high slot, all after an excellent keep-in by Ethan Spaxman at the right point.

Waterloo stacked up four more in the second, beginning just 1:36 after intermission when Spaxman lifted a shot to the top corner in transition. Coatta struck for his second of the game at 5:24 when he was the first to locate a loose puck in the crease to the left of goalie Lassi Yrjola.

All three Waterloo forwards touched the puck to create the opportunity for Brock Boeser to snap his 20th of the season into the net at 8:09. Ronnie Hein then capped the period with his first USHL goal, capitalizing after Blake Christensen worked the puck to him while moving off the left wing boards.

Boeser added the icing in the third, scoring his second of the game from the left circle at 11:07. The seven-goal performance matches the Black Hawks’ season high, which was also achieved against the Steel in a 7-4 win on November 6th.

Cale Morris made 29 saves against his former team, including 15 in the final 20 minutes.

The Hawks finish the weekend against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Saturday. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Black Hawks keychain courtesy of BankIowa. Tickets are available online from waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.

For Friday's box score, please click here.