Big Night for Black Hawks, Put Down RoughRiders

Five- and six-point nights by Jackson Cates and Ben Finkelstein respectively catapulted the Waterloo Black Hawks past the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 7-3 at Young Arena on Saturday, January 27, 2018. They are back on the ice this afternoon.

First period power play time was used to good effect by the home team, with Cates and Finkelstein finding the stat sheet almost immediately. During a five-on-three advantage at 7:29, Cates picked the top corner from the left circle. Ben Finkelstein had the primary assist, the first of three assists he would record in the opening 20 minutes.

At 14:10, Finkelstein found Cates again, sending a pass from the top of the left circle across the slot, where Cates scored before Blake Pietila could move from right to left. Cedar Rapids answered just over two minutes later. Tyler Jubenvill’s shot from the blue line changed directions and went in off a defender.

However, Waterloo reestablished a two-goal lead at 18:28. Finkelstein’s shot was tipped up by Jack Drury; it floated over the Pietila’s shoulder and dropped in for the Hawks’ second power play goal of the frame.

The onslaught continued in the second, with Finkelstein and Cates remaining right in the middle of it. Finkelstein scored himself at 3:12, snapping a wrist shot under the crossbar. Cedar Rapids interrupted with a power play goal at 8:23, as Liam Walsh got the last touch during a pileup in the netmouth.

As they had done in the first, Waterloo responded shortly after the Cedar Rapids goal. Cates completed his hat trick in transition with a wrister at 9:08. The Hawks struck again during a power play at 10:36; the rebound of a Cates shot came to Garrett Wait at the right faceoff dot and the veteran put his shot into an open side.

Cedar Rapids added one more power play tally with 59 seconds left in the period; Graham Slaggert scored from the left hash mark. Again the Hawks responded as Even Dougherty sniped a shot past Jiri Patera with 30.2 seconds to go before intermission. He was sent into the zone on a rush by Finkelstein and Solag Bakich.
Through 40 minutes, Cates had three goals and two assists, while Finkelstein accumulated a goal and five assists.

Neither team scored in the third, and together the two sides had just seven shots on goal during the final frame. Jared Moe claimed the win with 16 saves.

The Hawks’ weekend wraps up with a Sunday afternoon contest against the Sioux Falls Stampede. The Dark Knight, Wonder Woman, and characters from the Iowa League of Heroes will be on hand. After the game, meet the players during a free skate with the team. For tickets, call the Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or visit waterlooblackhawks.com.