U.S. Team Wins World Junior “A” Hockey Challenge
Four members of the Waterloo Black Hawks organization will have some special hardware to show off during the Christmas break!
Forwards Griffin Ness and Connor Caponi, Associate Head Coach Shane Fukushima, and Strength and Conditioning Coach/Equipment Manager Spenser Popinga were all part of the United States’ gold medal-winning effort during the 2018 World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alberta.
The American team – made up entirely of USHL players and staff – earned the gold medal on Sunday with a 2-0 shutout of Russia. The Russian team had not been beaten during the event, including a 4-3 win versus the U.S. just two days earlier in the final game of the preliminary stage for both countries. During the annual event, the U.S. squad has now won gold in eight of the 12 years they have participated.
Ness recorded two goals during the six-game tournament. Caponi notched one assist during the trip. The Black Hawks' Matej Blumel also played during the games. Blumel led Czech Republic with six points (two goals, four assists). The Czechs fell in Sunday's Bronze Medal game versus Canada West, 3-1.
Weekend Re-Cap
Vladislav Firstov and Emil Ohrvall each scored twice to help the Black Hawks recover from a 3-0 deficit for a 5-4 win against the Lincoln Stars on the road Friday.
Head Coach P.K. O'Handley recorded his 700th Regular Season Win this past Saturday night in Madison. The Black Hawks defeated the Capitols by a score of 5-3 and head into the holiday break on a four-game winning streak!
Waterloo sits in 2nd place in the Western Conference, just three standings points behind the Tri-City Storm.
The Black Hawks return from the USHL’s holiday break for a matchup on the road December 27th versus the Sioux Falls Stampede. Along with home games on December 29th versus Youngstown and December 31st versus Madison. For tickets, call the box office at 319-232-3444.