Black Hawks Win Big, Advance to USHL Western Division Finals

The Waterloo Black Hawks beat the Sioux Falls Stampede in Game 3 of the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs Western Division Semifinals. The Black Hawks await their next opponent, the winner of the best-of-five set between the Sioux City Musketeers and Omaha Lancers.

Brandon Montour had five points Thursday, and the Waterloo Black Hawks dashed past the Sioux Falls Stampede into the Clark Cup Semifinals with a 7-2 win at Sioux Falls Arena.

The matchup was the third game in a best-of-five opening round set. Waterloo had won Games One and Two, 7-4 and 6-3, at Young Arena last weekend.

The Hawks wasted no time, recording the first of four opening period goals when Hayden Shaw lifted a tight-angled rebound chance over the shoulder of goalie Arthur Brey at 1:49. On the power play at 4:24, Waterloo struck again with Tyler Sheehy flipping a shot into the net from the left circle.

Special teams success continued later in the period; during a two-man advantage at 15:05, Peter Krieger’s shot deflected into the net off of Brey, with help from Montour, who recorded the first of four assists on the play. The Stampede starting goaltender went to the bench 40 seconds later after allowing a transition goal scored by Montour during a four-on-three situation. Zeb Knutson rallied Sioux Falls with a marker 2:37 before intermission, slipping through defenders to beat Cal Petersen with a low wrist shot.

Waterloo recorded the only goal during the second period, making the most of another power play at 11:51. Moving up ice in formation, Liam Pecararo dropped a pass to Montour; he swept it to Blake Winiecki for a successful shot from the right circle past relief netminder David Jacobson.

The Stampede began the third period with a determined shift; C.J. Franklin banged in a centering pass created out of the right wing corner by Keith Burchett. However, Tim Lappin made sure Waterloo would outdistance Sioux Falls, scoring first on a rush at 4:56, then while stationary in the left circle at 18:08. Zach Sanford and Montour set up both goals.

Petersen made 23 saves for his third victory of the postseason.

The Black Hawks await their next opponent, the winner of the best-of-five set between the Sioux City Musketeers and Omaha Lancers. Sioux City leads that series two-games-to-none, with Game Three in Sioux City Friday.