Black Hawks Still in 1st Place After Weekend Games
The Waterloo Black Hawks split their weekend home stand with a loss and a win.
The forecast for Friday night called for snow...and it was correct as a "storm" rolled into Party Town Friday night...and Tri-City snuck away with a win. Then Saturday night, the Black Hawks sent the visiting "Stars" back to Lincoln with a loss...after Emil Ohrvall's "hat trick"!
Waterloo remains in 1st place in the Western Conference with 24 points. Sioux City, Des Moines and Tri-City aren't far behind, all tied for 2nd place with 23 points.
Friday night - Black Hawks drop a close one
The Tri-City Storm turned away Waterloo Black Hawks power play opportunities right up to the very end Friday night at Young Arena, coming away with a 2-1 victory.
Down a goal, Waterloo spent the final two minutes on an advantage, but all of their chances were snuffed out. That included a bullet by Matt Koopman from inside the left circle, snared with a minute remaining by goalie Isaiah Saville with a clean glove save. Saville made 33 stops on the night, and the Hawks finished 0-for-6 on the power play.
The game had opened up in the second after the teams combined for just 11 shots on goal in a scoreless first. Three Black Hawks power plays were turned away before the Storm converted their first special teams opportunity at 8:59. Ronnie Attard got all of a blast from the left point for the game’s opening goal. However, a brilliant pass by Mason Palmer led to the equalizer with under two minutes remaining before intermission. Eyeing the net from the right circle, Palmer made a diagonal pass across the slot to Patrick Guzzo cutting toward the crease. Guzzo notched his first USHL goal with one touch on Palmer’s feed. Tri-City got the winner skating four-on-four at 9:57 of the third period. A Waterloo defenseman fell down deep in the defensive zone, allowing Filip Forsmark to set up Connor McMenamin for a shot that squeaked past Jared Moe.
Saturday night "was alright for fightin" as the Black Hawks had Lincoln seeing "stars", plus a "hat trick"!
It was a wild night in Party Town! Waterloo cashed in for five power play goals on seven tries on Saturday, and Emil Ohrvall brought hats to the Young Arena ice during a 6-3 win against the Lincoln Stars. Ohrvall was responsible for two of the power play goals – separated by less than four minutes – in the second period. He also had Waterloo’s only even-strength goal of the night. The three goal performance was his second hat trick of the season.
Ohrvall’s power play goals put the Hawks ahead permanently; they were nearly identical. The first at 4:43 and the second at 7:59 were on shots from near the right faceoff dot, squeezed inside the post at Johnson’s left with a screen in front of the net. Lincoln converted a five-on-three power play at 11:27 on a blast by Jordan Power from the deep slot. Yet the last power play score of the period went to Waterloo with 1:38 remaining. Hank Sorensen’s shot sprang off the end boards to Matt Koopman, who scored with a quick flip to the top corner. Koopman was trying to find Ohrvall during an early third period advantage when the Hawks notched the game’s final goal. The two connected on a pass across the slot, but Johnson made an all-out diving save to deny Ohrvall’s chance. Xander Lamppa was there to collect the rebound and chip in a backhander.
Next, Waterloo’s busy Thanksgiving week begins Wednesday night on the road in Sioux City versus the Musketeers.
Celebrate the Thanksgiving in Party Town when the Black Hawks host Dupaco Cowbell Cup Rival Cedar Rapids on Thursday, November 22nd at 7:05!
It's also Teddy Bear Toss Night (presented by K98.5!) Remember to bring new stuffed animals and when the Hawks score their first goal, throw them on to the ice! They’ll be then be donated to Toys-4-Tots and other children's charities in the Cedar Valley.
Groups of 10 or more can receive discounted ticket pricing by calling 319-232-3444.