Black Hawks Preview (Jan 10-11), Sheehy Honored

Tyler Sheehy was awarded as the Forward of the Week by the United States Hockey League.  The Black Hawks prepare for two games this weekend.  Friday night they will be on the road to Sioux Falls, and on Saturday night, they will be on home ice to play Des Moines.

Sheehy Honored by U.S.H.L.
Tyler Sheehy was a difference-maker as the Waterloo Black Hawks claimed three victories last week, and the United States Hockey League recognized his efforts by naming the Burnsville, Minnesota native its co-CCM Forward of the Week Monday.

Sheehy had a positive plus/minus rating during wins against the Lincoln Stars, Fargo Force, and Dubuque Fighting Saints.  Facing Fargo Friday, the 5-10, 185-pound forward recorded his seventh multipoint game of the season with a pair of assists.  His effort included the setup on Mark Friedman’s power play score with 2:20 remaining, which tied the contest at 3-3 and allowed Waterloo the opportunity to win in a shootout.  The next night in Dubuque, Sheehy scored twice – his third two-goal game in less than a month – and added an assist to match a USHL career-best three point performance.  His second goal of the evening was delivered during a second period power play and proved to be the winner in the 6-4 decision.

Sioux Falls-Bound, Then Back for the Bucs
Waterloo’s weekend begins Friday with the Black Hawks’ third and final trip to Sioux Falls this season.  During three prior meetings – including two at Sioux Falls Arena – Waterloo has earned a 6-1 edge in standings points.  The most recent matchup on November 15th included a 12-round shootout, the longest in the USHL this season, from which the Hawks claimed a 4-3 victory.  Saturday’s contest at home against the Des Moines Buccaneers will be the first between the teams this year.  The Bucs won three of four last year against Waterloo.

Petersen on Top
Goaltender Cal Petersen currently leads the United States Hockey League with 17 victories.  The Hawks have not had a goalie lead the USHL in wins at the conclusion of a season since Kevin Regan had 28 in 2003/04.  Petersen’s last six wins have come in succession since December 13th.  Now at 41 career victories, the Waterloo native is six away from matching Matt DiGirolamo’s franchise record of 47.

Prodigious Number of Point Producers
Blake Winiecki became the ninth Waterloo Black Hawk to record his 20th point this season when he scored his first goal against the Dubuque Fighting Saints last Saturday.  No other team in the USHL currently has more than six players who have reached that threshold.  Hayden Shaw is likely to be the next Hawk to 20 points, currently sitting at 17.  Last year, only 11 Hawks had scored 20 or more points by the end of the campaign.

Hats Off
The Black Hawks exploded for five goals during the second period Saturday versus the Dubuque Fighting Saints.  Three of them came off the stick of Blake Winiecki during the span of less than eleven minutes.  It was the first USHL hat trick for the Lakeville, Minnesota, native who now ranks second on the team with 14 goals this season.  Saturday was the first three-goal performance by a Black Hawk since Mike Huntebrinker’s effort against the Green Bay Gamblers on February 2, 2013 at Young Arena.

Weekly Recap
Waterloo scored with 2:20 to spare Friday, setting the backdrop for a 4-3 comeback shootout victory against the Fargo Force.  Mark Friedman notched the equalizer, and together with an assist earlier in the contest, it was the first a two two-point nights for the defenseman during the weekend.  Liam Pecararo converted the shootout winner on the Black Hawks’ sixth attempt.  Saturday against the Fighting Saints in Dubuque, Waterloo took control during the second period, spurred on by a five minute major power play.  The Hawks squeezed that opportunity for three goals.  Blake Winiecki’s hat trick was complimented by a two-goal performance from Tyler Sheehy.  Waterloo now owns 11 points from seven Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup contests.