Hawks Surge Past Bucs Saturday
September 17, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Veteran forwards propelled the Waterloo Black Hawks to a 5-2 win against the Des Moines Buccaneers during Saturday’s exhibition finale at Young Arena.
With three wins over a four-day span, Waterloo’s preseason record finished at 3-2-0. The team outscored their opponents 14-3 during the mini-streak.
The Black Hawks had 18 shots in the opening period, finding the net on one of them during a power play at 12:35. Jake McLean seized control in the right circle off the initial faceoff of the advantage. McLean found Ben Robertson in the high slot, and Robertson’s shot-pass was redirected by Garrett Schifsky cutting across the top of the crease.
In just over eight minutes of the second period, the Hawks inflated their 1-0 lead to 5-0. The first of those goals came just 54 seconds out of intermission when Owen Baker flicked in a backhander from a sharp angle at the bottom of the left circle. Only 54 seconds passed before Gavin O’Connell swept a rebound into an open side at 1:48.
Luck was with the Hawks at 6:40. A high shot from Gavin Lindberg was knocked down in the slot before the puck eventually squirted away from a couple of Buccaneers and across the goal line. Then at 8:09, Connor Brown added to the lead, coming out of the left corner to redirect a shot by Jaedon Kerr.
The Buccaneers drew one goal back at 16:17 when Andrew Kuzma tipped Jackson Anderson’s shot from the right point.
Ethan Fredericks produced one more goal with just under three minutes remaining in regulation, eluding a defender and goalie Emmett Croteau to score from the top of the crease. Des Moines outshot the Hawks 12-6 in the third, but Waterloo finished with a 42-21 shots advantage.
Saturday’s game completed this year’s preseason slate. A matchup next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Central against the Youngstown Phantoms during the USHL Fall Classic opens the official 2022/23 campaign.
Des Moines 0 1 1 – 2
Waterloo 1 4 0 – 5
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Schifsky 2 (Robertson, McLean), 12:35 (PP). Penalties-Ruklic Dm (boarding), 9:16; Kupco Dm (cross checking), 12:28.
2nd Period-2, Waterloo, Baker 1 (Hilman, Procious), 0:54. 3, Waterloo, O’Connell 2 (Flynn, McInnis), 1:48. 4, Waterloo, Lindberg 1 (Procious, Degraves), 6:40. 5, Waterloo, Brown 1 (Kerr, Geary), 8:09. 6, Des Moines, Kuzma 1 (Anderson, Kocsis), 16:17. Penalties-No Penalties
3rd Period-7, Des Moines, Fredericks 3 17:04. Penalties-Hong Wat (tripping), 4:14.
Shots on Goal-Des Moines 3-6-12-21. Waterloo 18-18-6-42.
Power Play Opportunities-Des Moines 0 / 1; Waterloo 1 / 2.
Goalies-Des Moines, Lundgren 1-1-0-0 (26 shots-21 saves); Korec 0-1-0-0 (16 shots-16 saves). Waterloo, Croteau 2-0-0-0 (21 shots-19 saves).
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