Black Hawks Move into Tie For USHL West, Home Tonight

The Waterloo Black Hawks moved into a tie for the USHL Western Conference. They return home tonight to face an arch rival.

On Friday, February 10, the Waterloo Black Hawks traveled to Lincoln, NE to battle the Stars. Early and regular scoring allowed the Black Hawks to stay out in front of the Lincoln Stars throughout Friday’s 5-3 victory at the Ice Box.

Entering Friday's slate of games, Waterloo trained the Sioux City Musketeer by two standings points. The Chicago Steel beat Sioux City (2-1) allowing Waterloo to move into a tie for the Western Conference lead.

A turnover 2:13 into the game provided the Black Hawks’ the chance to take a 1-0 lead. Jackson Cates swiped a pass at the inside edge of the right wing circle and blasted a shot into the net at the short side. Waterloo made it 2-0 four-and-a-half minutes later. Grant Gabriele sprang Kevin Charyszyn behind the Lincoln defense; Josef Korenar stopped Charyszyn’s chance but couldn’t control the puck and Bailey Conger followed up to knock it in.

Lincoln responded at 11:33. Ethen Frank set up Michael Gillespie for a blast from the slot which flew between Robbie Beydoun and the post to his right.

During the opening minutes of the second period, the Hawks stretched the lead to three goals. On a power play at 3:10, Grant Gabriele sent a rocket to the nylon netting from the deep slot. Then at 7:13, Garrett Wait flipped the puck across the netmouth to Charyszyn, who tapped it into an open side.

Lincoln drew a goal back at 12:47 as Frank fended off a check in the left circle and dodged a Beydoun poke check to score.

At 10:37 of the third, the Stars clawed back within one. With a Black Hawk defender forced to the bench after his helmet was knocked off, Christian Evers was able to wind up a fire the puck into the net on a turnover in the high slot.

Following several tense shifts, the win was sealed on Shane Bowers’ empty net goal with 33.1 seconds to go.

Tonight (Feb. 11, 2017), the Black Hawks host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Tickets are still available for the 7:05 p.m. Dupaco Cowbell Cup rivalry tilt. For more details, call the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or visit waterlooblackhawks.com.

Friday Game Recap Provided By : Waterloo Black Hawks' Tim Harwood