Black Hawks Put Down Fighting Saints

The Waterloo Black Hawks opened the weekend leading wire-to-wire, topping the Dubuque Fighting Saints, 3-2, Friday (11/17/2017) at Young Arena.

Matej Tomek made 18 saves for the victory as the Hawks limited their guests to eight shots of fewer in each period.

After playing five consecutive games on the road, it was Waterloo’s first home ice win of the season, improving the team’s record to 7-6-0.

The Hawks went to work on the power play just 5:24 into the opening period. Ben Copeland and Bobby Trivigno arrived at the net mouth; as both batted at a loose puck, Trivigno got the last touch to knock a shot between the pipes. With 32.4 seconds to go, the Waterloo lead grew to 2-0. Garrett Wait was denied on a partial breakaway but followed his rebound behind the net, from where he fed Mason Palmer between the circles. Palmer snapped in his first goal of the season, through traffic, and past Jaxon Castor.

The teams exchanged goals in the second. During a power play at 7:19, Alex Steeves scored from a sharp angle to the left of Tomek. Waterloo answered in transition at 18:13. Ethan Johnson found Joey Cassetti trailing a rush, and the big forward lifted a shot over Castor’s right shoulder.

An unfortunate bounce early in the third made the game close throughout the final period. Josh Maniscalco’s shot from the right point nicked the shin guard of a defender, altering its course inside the opposite post just 30 seconds out of intermission. However, both teams struggled to generate chances in the time which remained, and the score held.

Contributed By: Tim Harwood (Waterloo Black Hawks Media Relations)