Black Hawks’ Nick Swaney Wins USHL Honor

The Waterloo Black Hawks scored 14 goals over the weekend, and Nick Swaney was involved in half of them; in the process, he earned recognition at the United States Hockey League’s co-CCM Forward of the Week.

The Hawks claimed three wins, and Swaney contributed multiple points each night. He opened by assisting on two goals against the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday as the Black Hawks recorded a 5-2 home victory. During a rematch the following night, the University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit scored twice – including his 20th goal of the season – as Waterloo rolled to a 4-1 decision. Swaney capped the weekend with a goal and two assists Sunday on the road against the Sioux City Musketeers in a 5-2 tilt. While providing a healthy dose of offense, the 18-year-old was also solid defensively, tying for the Hawks’ plus/minus lead at +7 during the three games.

Waterloo’s scoring leader now has 21 goals and 34 points this winter. The weekend surge boosted him into a third-place tie for goals on a league-wide basis. Swaney is now 11th in total USHL points. He is the only Black Hawk currently averaging at least one point per appearance. Swaney also ranks third on the squad in plus/minus at +12.

This is the second time this season that Swaney has earned at least a share of the USHL Forward of the Week award. He and Kieffer Bellows of the U.S. National Team Development Program were each recognized by the league on Monday.

Earlier this season, Waterloo’s Ben Newhouse and Cale Morris were respectively honored as the USHL’s Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week.