Watreloo Beat Omaha, 5-3 (Dec 13)

Three first period goals by the Waterloo Black Hawks Friday set the
visitors off toward a wire-to-wire 5-3 victory at Ralston Arena against
the Omaha Lancers.

Drew Melanson had a triumphant return to Omaha, notching a goal against
his former team 3:35 into the action when he was able to redirect a shot
by Brandon Montour past goaltender Cole Bruns.  Melanson’s line was
responsible for two more goals shortly before intermission.  At 15:16, a
shot-pass by Zach Sanford off the left wing boards left Tyler Sheehy with
a tap-in goal.  Just over a minute later, Sheehy scored again from close
range to cap a four-on-two rush.  All four Hawks moving up the ice touched
the puck as it went from Sanford to Melanson to Hayden Shaw, and finally
to Sheehy who put it past a dizzied Cole Bruns.

Both teams had trouble on the power play early in the second, with the
Lancers turned aside on several terrific chances by Cal Petersen, who made
eight shorthanded saves before the six minute mark.  After that
frustration, Omaha was able to record the first goal of the frame at
10:56, when Louie Rowe capped a two-on-one rush with a shot which eluded
Petersen as it slipped to the net at less than full speed.  Waterloo
converted a special teams chance at 13:46 when Patrick Russell banged in
the rebound from a Shaw shot, past backup goaltender Hayden Hawkey.
However, the Lancers closed back to within two before intermission when a
turnover set up Zach Jordan to blast a chance past the glove side of
Petersen at 18:01.

Tyler Vesel allowed the Lancers to claw back within one goal, scoring on a
wraparound 3:48 after the second intermission.  For much of the middle
third, Omaha cranked up the pressure, but their best chance to tie the
score came on a two-on-one opportunity during a Waterloo power play with
five minutes remaining.  Rushing into the Hawks zone shorthanded, Luca
Frigo fed the puck to Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson for the try, but Petersen
made the save, springing from left to right.  Later during the same power
play, Montour snuck to the net and knocked in a pass out of the corner for
a vital insurance goal.

Petersen made the most saves by a Waterloo goalie this season with 39.
The Hawks chased Bruns to the bench at the end of the first period,
scoring three goals on eight shots.  Hawkey made 15 saves while taking the
loss.

On Saturday, the Black Hawks play their final game before Christmas on
home ice against the U.S. National Team Development Program U-17’s.  Good
seats still remain for the 7:05 game, which will be attended by Santa
Claus.  To order, visit waterlooblackhawks.com or call the Domino’s Black
Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.

For Friday's box score, click on the link below:
http://ushl2011.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=2234341