With 20 games remaining during the regular season, the Waterloo Black Hawks have added two new players to help the team push towards the USHL playoff.

Alex Limoges and Peter Thome are the most recent players added to the Black Hawks’ roster. Since Christmas, Waterloo has added three other new names. Defenseman Grant Gabriele has appeared in 14 games with two goals (both on the power play) and two assists. Blue-liner Ethan Spaxman has notched a pair of assists in ten contests. Forward Sam Craggs has two points – both assists – during his first five games.

Goalie Peter Thome became a Black Hawk after a trade with the Chicago Steel which was announced on Tuesday. Chicago received non-roster considerations in exchange for Thome.

The 19-year-old from Minneapolis is committed to the University of North Dakota and brings a formidable junior hockey resume. In 2015/16, Thome appeared in 47 of 60 games for the Aberdeen Wings of the North American Hockey League. He recorded four shutouts and his 92.9% save percentage tied for the league lead. Thome was in the crease for 17 of the Wings’ 22 victories.

During the summer, the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted the 6-4, 202-pound netminder in the sixth round with the 155th overall pick. This season, Thome has split time between the Steel and the Omaha Lancers. Opening the schedule in Omaha, he was in net 14 times and owned a 7-3-1 record. In five subsequent appearances for the Steel, Thome was 3-1-1, shaving his goals-against average down to 2.37 (3.56 in Omaha) and boosting his save percentage to 91.1% (up from 87.2%).

Alex Limoges  joined the Waterloo Black Hawks on Tuesday. Last spring, the Winchester, Virginia, native recorded five goals and nine assists in 11 playoff games. His three game-winning goals included the decisive score in the midst of a three-point night as the Storm clinched the Cup with a 4-1 victory in Game Three of the championship series against the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

“Alex is a gifted offensive player, and we look forward to seeing him take the ice in a Black Hawks jersey,” said Waterloo Head Coach and General Manager P.K. O’Handley. “Besides his individual abilities, his experience winning the Clark Cup last season and his leadership are intangible assets which will benefit our young team.”

Waterloo veterans Nick Swaney, Mikey Anderson, and Jake Ryczek skated with Limoges in December during the World Junior A Challenge. The group – playing together as members of the U.S. Junior Select Team – claimed the event’s gold medal. Swaney, Anderson, and Shane Bowers shared the ice with Limoges as their teammate again last month during the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

The trade was completed with Tri-City receiving future considerations. Waterloo forward Logan Jenuwine departs from the Hawks to clear a roster slot for Limoges. Jenuwine will join the Aberdeen Wings of the North American Hockey League.

Contributed By: Tim Harwood (Waterloo Black Hawks Media Relations)

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