Black Hawks Win Saturday, Extend Streak To 15 Games
The Waterloo Black Hawks beat the Omaha Lancers on Saturday night. With the win, the Black Hawks extend their streak to 15 games and still in the Anderson Cup Hunt.
Two goals apiece from Kevin Charyszyn and Nick Swaney propelled the Waterloo Black Hawks to a 5-3 win against the Omaha Lancers Saturday at Young Arena.
The Waterloo Black Hawks remain the United States Hockey League's hottest team. Over the last 15 games, Waterloo has scored 13 wins and two overtime losses thus earning at least one point during that 15 game run (24 points out of a possible 26 standing points).
Despite the hot streak, they still trail the Sioux City Musketeers by one point in the standings for the best league lead and Western Conference title run.
On Saturday night, a flurry of chances in the opening minutes brought the Young Arena crowd to life right away. Charyszyn squeezed a shot through at 8:01. Sent flying up the slot in transition by Garrett Wait, Charyszyn’s team-leading 25th goal of the year beat Ryan Keane between the pads. Swaney struck next at 16:16. Navigating to his right across the high slot, he wristed a puck inside the wide-side post for his 20th goal of the year.
Each team scored twice in the second, beginning with a Lancers power play goal when Ben Lown batted in a rebound at 8:02. The Hawks responded at 10:22, six seconds into a power play. Mikey Anderson’s shot from the high slot was deflected in by Charyszyn from his position near the top of the crease.
Waterloo struck again just over a minute later. Alex Limoges flipped a pass into the offensive zone as he was colliding with a Lancer in the center circle. Swaney caught up for a partial breakaway and lifted his shot under the crossbar at 11:27. However, the Lancers drew back within two at 17:53 when a Hawks defender was upended outside the blue line. A resulting three-on-one led to a tally by Emilio Pettersen.
During the third, a two-on-one goal brought the Lancers within one at 6:09. Josh DeLuca faked a shot before saucering a pass to Connor Marshall for a goal on the backside. However, during a four-on-four sequence, Limoges reestablished a two-goal margin while setting the final score. At 11:59, he took Anderson’s feed in the slot and fired a wrist shot over Keane’s glove.
After playing seven of nine February games at home, the Black Hawks start March on the road against the U.S. National Team Development Program. Matchups against the NTDP U-18s on Friday and Saturday represent Waterloo’s first trip to USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
Game Recap Provided By: Waterloo Black Hawks (Tim Harwood)