Former Black Hawks’ star and Waterloo native Cal Petersen has been called up to the National Hockey League!

Petersen, 24, is expected to be in uniform when the Los Angeles Kings host the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Staples Center Tuesday evening (Nov. 13, 2018). The Kings recalled Petersen, a goalie, from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Ontario on Monday.

The move was necessary, due to injuries to L.A.'s top two goaltenders. Jonathan Quick is currently on injured reserve following surgery last month to repair a meniscus tear in his knee. A similar injury is expected to keep back-up Jack Campbell off the ice for at least four weeks.

Whether Petersen gets any playing time has yet to be determined. He will share responsibilities in the crease with veteran Peter Budaj.

Petersen is in position to make some history. While several former Waterloo Black Hawks goaltenders have been on the bench for NHL games, Petersen would be the first alum from the team to log minutes during a regular season game if he takes the ice at any time while with the Kings.

During his time in the United States Hockey League (USHL), Petersen played more than two full seasons for the Black Hawks. He set the Waterloo junior era record with 51 career regular season victories, which included 27 wins during the 2013-14 season when the Hawks claimed the Anderson Cup for having the USHL's best regular season record.

Petersen also had ten wins in 16 career playoff appearances, including helping Waterloo reach the 2014 Clark Cup Championship Series. That spring, he was recognized as USA Hockey’s "Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year" Award winner.

From Waterloo, Petersen spent three seasons at Notre Dame. In his junior year, he backstopped the Fighting Irish to the Frozen Four and was named to the Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team. Petersen finished with a career NCAA mark of 55-39-15, including 11 shutouts.

Originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres between his first and second seasons in Waterloo, Petersen signed with the Kings in the summer of 2017. As a professional hockey rookie last winter, he was an AHL All-Star while appearing a member of the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate.

Three of Petersen’s former Waterloo teammates have skated in NHL games this year: Vinnie Hinostroza (Arizona Coyotes), Zach Sanford (St. Louis Blues), and Brandon Montour (Anaheim Ducks). Four other Waterloo alumni have also appeared in at least one 2018/19 NHL regular season game: Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Craig Smith (Nashville Predators), J.T. Brown (Minnesota Wild), and Jacob MacDonald (Florida Panthers).

As a Black Hawk and at Notre Dame, Petersen wore No. 40. He'll have the same number in L.A.


Courtesy: L.A. Kings via YouTube

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