Black Hawks Put Down Fighting Saints

The Waterloo Black Hawks beat the Dubuque Fighting Saints 3-2 on Friday, October 28, 2016 at Young Arena.

A shorthanded goal by Bailey Conger stood up as the winner Friday during a 3-2 home win at Young Arena against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Out of the penalty box himself after serving a minor for cross checking, a puck came Conger’s direction in the neutral zone, giving him a breakaway from the redline. The forward dashed up the slot and lifted a shot over the left shoulder of Saints goalie Jaxon Castor. Conger’s goal made the score 3-1.

Dubuque was still on the power play at that point due to a match penalty against Waterloo goaltender Robbie Beydoun. His replacement, Severi Isokangas, stopped eight of the nine shots he faced during the final 11:42 of regulation, only yielding a goal to R.J. Murphy when the power play evolved into a five-on-three situation.

All totaled, the teams accumulated 87 penalty minutes. Waterloo denied seven of eight Dubuque power plays.

Jake Ryczek had planted the opening goal just 41 seconds into the game. His shot from the right point was partially blocked Colin Theisen, but deflected high into the air and landed in the net behind Castor. The Saints tied the contest just over two minutes later when David Brumm knocked in a rebound goal from the left wing circle.

The go-ahead Hawks goal which sent Waterloo to a 2-1 edge for most of regulation came at 12:32. A turnover in Dubuque territory created a Garrett Wait shot which went off Castor’s facemask; Garrett Klee was beside the net to swat the puck between the pipes.

The two teams meet for an instant rematch in Dubuque Saturday at 7:05.