Black Hawks Home Opener Is Saturday night!

It's once again time for every hockey fan's favorite words..."IT'S HOCKEY TIME IN PARTY TOWN!

Get there early to make sure you don't miss the unveiling of Anderson Cup Championship banner! Plus, the first 1,000 fans will receive an Anderson Cup Pennant. Enjoy $2 Bud Light Tallboys all game long....and it's College Night, college students will receive discounted tickets for just $8.00 in advance or $9.00 on day of game with ID. For details, stop by the box office, or call 319-232-3444.

Home Against Green Bay - The Waterloo Black Hawks’ first regular season game at Young Arena in 2018/19 is Saturday (7:05 p.m.) against the Green Bay Gamblers.  The Hawks have opened the year away from home by notching at least one standings point in each of their first four games.  Green Bay has started 1-4-0 despite a point-per-game effort from veteran forward Paul Maust.  Last season, the Black Hawks’ 22 home wins and 45 home points were the best figures in the USHL.  Waterloo topped the Gamblers 3-1 on November 18th during their only visit to the Cedar Valley.  Hank Sorensen scored the game-winning goal in the second period.

Follow the Leaders - Forwards Matej Blumel and Vladislav Firstov share scoring honors for Waterloo through two weekends.  Each player has six points, putting them into a tie for fifth overall in the league.  Blumel has found the net regularly; his four goals tie for second in the USHL.  Firstov has contributed assists consistently; with five, he is tied for the league lead.  A season ago, three Black Hawks (Jack Drury, Jackson Cates, and Ben Copeland) each ended the schedule among the league’s top ten point producers.

Strong Finishes Early - The Hawks have been the USHL’s best third period team in this young season.  Waterloo has outscored their opponents 9-2 collectively over the first four games.  That offensive total is higher than any other league club in the third.  The Hawks have scored at least once in the third period during each of their four games.  In two meetings with the Central Illinois Flying Aces, Waterloo had three third period goals in each contest.

Hat Trick or Treat - Matej Blumel completed his first career hat trick on Saturday as the Black Hawks topped the Central Illinois Flying Aces, 5-1.  The first two goals came in power play situations, while the third was an unassisted, short-handed breakaway.  It is the first time a Black Hawk has recorded an October hat trick since Brock Boeser did it on the road against the Lincoln Stars on Halloween in 2014.  Waterloo won that game, 6-4.  Blumel’s hat trick is one of four in the USHL this fall.

Weekly Recap - The Des Moines Buccaneers crept past the Waterloo Black Hawks in a shootout Friday.  Two third period goals were crucial to the Bucs’ eventual 3-2 result. Vladislav Firstov and Hank Sorensen each scored their first goals of the season for Waterloo.  Saturday, Matej Blumel did the majority of the scoring during a 5-1 win against the Central Illinois Flying Aces.  In net, Logan Stein, stopped 34 of 35 shots for a win in his first league appearance.  The Hawks ended the weekend 4-for-7 on the power play.