Black Hawks Add Veterans for Playoff Push

The Waterloo Black Hawks made a few key moves to help bolster the roster for a late season playoff push.

February began with the Waterloo Black Hawks’ acquisitionvof NHL goaltending prospect Garrett Metcalf from the Madison Capitols; onvthe final day of the month, the two teams reached a trade-deadline agreement to bring Madison’s top two scorers to the Cedar Valley.

The Hawks gain veteran forwards Sam McCormick and Ryan Lohin in exchange for third-year defenseman Alex Robert and rookie winger Marshall Moise.

Together, McCormick and Lohin have appeared in 216 United States Hockey League games. In that time, they have combined to accumulate 65 goals and 73 assists. McCormick and Lohin, along with current Hawks Metcalf and Hunter Luhmann, were all in the lineup when the current iteration of the Capitols played their first home game as an expansion team in October of 2014.

This season, McCormick is tied for tenth in USHL scoring with 42 points (24 goals, 18 assists). His year has been highlighted by a pair of hat tricks, including a three-goal game in Waterloo on February 6th. The 19-year-old is committed to Ohio State.

Lohin was in the lineup for all 48 Capitols games thus far in 2015/16 and just three points behind McCormick’s scoring pace (16 goals, 23 assists).  Lohin has recorded multiple points in ten games and had been leading Madison with five power play goals. Turning 20 in June, Lohin is committed to Massachusetts-Lowell.

Robert was in the midst of his second season with the Hawks and third in the USHL. He appeared in the first 44 Waterloo games this year recording two goals and eight assists. Moise was acquired from the Muskegon Lumberjacks just before the regular season opened in September and contributed seven goals and eight assists in 42 contests. Like McCormick and Lohin, both Robert and Moise have college commitments, respectively to Robert Morris and Western Michigan Universities.

Besides the exchange of players, the trade included several draft picks.  The Capitols acquired a third round Phase I pick, as well as a first round choice in Phase II. They also regained fourth round Phase I and a third round Phase II selections which they had dealt to the Hawks within previous trades.

The Black Hawks are currently tied for third place in the USHL Western Conference. With 14 regular season games remaining and level with Omaha, Waterloo visits the Lancers at Ralston Arena Saturday. McCormick and Lohin are anticipated to make their home ice debuts against the Dubuque Fighting Saints March 11th.

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