Black Hawks Bring Home Cowbell Cup

The Waterloo Black Hawks pulled away from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to a 6-1 win at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Saturday, claiming the Cowbell Cup.

The three-team trophy comes to Waterloo for the first time since the 2013/14 season. The Hawks compete for the Cowbell Cup annually against the RoughRiders and Dubuque Fighting Saints.

All of the first period scoring was achieved in a 30 second span. Kevin Charyszyn redirected the puck into the net on a Mikey Anderson pass at 4:09. It was the Hawks’ seventh shot on goal during the early minutes. Cedar Rapids tied it on the ensuing shift when a puck came off the end wall and was free near the side of the net. T.J. Walsh pounced and pushed it in past the left skate of Robbie Beydoun. It was Cedar Rapids’ first shot of the game.

Black Hawks defensemen took over late in the second. At 15:38, Ethan Spaxman fired a one-timer into the net from the top of the left circle on a set up by Jack Drury. Dylan Samberg followed with a goal three minutes later from a similar spot in the ice, thanks to Ethan Johnson’s pass out of the opposite corner.

In the third, the Hawks denied a RoughRider chance to close the gap, adding to the lead instead. During a Cedar Rapids power play 42 seconds after intermission, Nick Swaney swiped a Zack LaRocque outlet pass near the blue line and flipped it into the open goal before the Rider netminder could scamper back to the crease.

Waterloo salted away the win with two goals during a five minute power play. Jackson Cates redirected Spaxman’s shot at 14:51. Twenty-six seconds later, Spaxman and Drury reconnected in the opposite sequence as Drury lifted a puck to the top corner from the right circle.

Waterloo outshot Cedar Rapids during every period and by a count of 46-19 for the game. Beydoun made 18 saves for the win. LaRocque made 40 saves.

The Black Hawks play their only Tuesday night home game of the season this week against the Chicago Steel. Click here to win tickets. Plus, take advantage of the “Two for Tuesday” package with two attack zone tickets, two chuck-a-pucks, a voucher for two Subway 6” combo meals, and certificates for two slices of Casey’s General Store pizza for $25. Season ticket holders can enjoy the package for $10, minus the game tickets. To order or for more details, call the Hawks at (319) 291-7680.