The Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview

The Waterloo Black Hawks will face with their 2016 Clark Cup Playoff opponents, the Lincoln Stars tonight (10-06-16) in Nebraska. This Saturday night, the Hawks will host the Stars on inside Party Town during their home opener. Saturday’s rematch will be the first of 30 home games at Young Arena during the 2016/17 season.

Starting With Nothing

Robbie Beydoun became the first junior-era Waterloo Black Hawks goaltender to record a 60-minute shutout during his first appearance for the team. Friday in Fargo, he made 27 saves, a first step toward being named the United States Hockey League Goalie of the Week. Two former Hawks have previously been close to achieving Beydoun’s distinction. Last fall, Drew Hotte made 30 saves in his first start – a 6-0 win against the Des Moines Buccaneers – after entering a prior game against the Lincoln Stars for injured Cale Morris. Steve Racine shutout the Stars – his former team – during a November, 2009, first-start but had absorbed a relief loss against the Omaha Lancers the night before.

Short Shift

The Black Hawks recorded the first shorthanded goal of the season Saturday versus the Sioux Falls Stampede. The score came from Shane Bowers on an assist by Nick Swaney early in the third period. Last season, the Hawks tallied a USHL-low two shorthanded goals and did not have one until January 31st. Swaney notched both of those shorties. However, Waterloo broke out shorthanded during the 2016 Clark Cup playoffs, equaling the regular season count in just nine postseason contests.

In the Clutch

Nick Swaney had the game-winning goal in both Black Hawks victories last week. Swaney was also the last Waterloo player with back-to-back regular season winners, achieving the feat as an affiliate player on March 7 and 13, 2015. Of his 42 goals for Waterloo, Swaney has scored the game-winner nine times.

Weekly Recap

The Black Hawks blanked the Fargo Force, 2-0 on Friday. The win for Robbie Beydoun came against his former team. Saturday, Emil Ohrvall scored twice to lift Waterloo to a 5-2 win against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Nick Swaney and Shane Bowers each had a goal and an assist.

For complete box scores from previous Black Hawks games, visit ushl.com.