Former Waterloo Black Hawk Gets NHL Call Up

Former Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman Nick Ebert was recalled to the National Hockey League on Monday (December 14, 2015).

The Los Angeles Kings recalled former Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman Nick Ebert on Monday.

Should Ebert take the ice during this call-up, he would be the second former Waterloo skater to make his NHL debut this season. In October, Vince Hinostroza played his first game as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. Three other former Waterloo players have also been on the ice in NHL action during 2015/16: Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Craig Smith (Nashville Predators), and Ebert’s former Black Hawks teammate J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay Lightning).

Ebert skated for the Hawks in 2009/10 at just 15-years-old. Despite his young age, the Livingston, New Jersey, native held his own, appearing in 53 United States Hockey League regular season games. His six goals (tied second) and 12 assists (third) put him among Waterloo’s defensive scoring leaders that season. Ebert’s “even” plus/minus differential ranked fourth among the Hawks’ blue line regulars. His year with Waterloo was highlighted by three multipoint games, and a game-winning goal against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on March 27, 2010 during a 4-0 home decision.

In 2012, the Kings selected Ebert with the final pick of the NHL Draft, 211th overall. He joined the Los Angeles organization in the autumn of 2014, and was part of the Manchester Monarchs 2014/15 AHL Calder Cup championship squad. During the offseason, the Kings relocated their AHL affiliate to Ontario, California, where Ebert has spent this season with fellow Hawks alumni Vince LoVerde and Jordan Samuels-Thomas.

Seventeen Waterloo alumni have climbed to hockey’s highest level and taken the ice during the regular season. Forward Jason Blake made his NHL debut for L.A. in 1999. Former Hawks David Meckler and Josh Turnbull were each drafted by the Kings but did not take skate for them in regular season play.

Los Angeles is in the midst of a road trip during which they are facing several Eastern Conference opponents. The Kings play this evening against the Ottawa Senators and Thursday versus the Montreal Canadiens.