After dozens of shots in the first 40 minutes, the Waterloo Black Hawks built a healthy lead in the third, topping the Tri-City Storm 4-1 Saturday.
The result moved Waterloo to 2-2-0. The home-opening win marked the third time in the last four years that the Hawks have prevailed in their Young Arena debut.
Waterloo outshot the Storm 16-5 in the first period, then 15-3 in the second. Despite the big edge in chances, the lead was just 1-0 after 40 minutes. Aaron Pionk produced that goal at 8:49, hitting the top corner from above the left faceoff dot on a setup by Tyler Procious. The margin could have been much bigger, except for a pair of exceptional Karlis Mazsargs saves on Gavyn Thoreson and two instances where Sam Rinzel hit a post.
Jake McLean helped Waterloo build the lead 3:33 into the third. After hemming the puck in the right corner, Sam Rinzel pulled it out, and McLean went to the front of the net. McLean tipped Rinzel's shot up and over Mazsargs for his first USHL goal.
Gavyn Thoreson added another at 13:18, slipping behind the defense for a breakaway score, lifting his chance high to the short side.
Goalie Emmett Croteau maintained a shutout until 59.6 seconds remained. Dane Dowiak squeezed in a shot in from the left circle on a feed out of the left corner during a six-on-four power play.
Pionk added his second of the night with 13.9 seconds left, reestablishing a three-goal margin by scoring into an empty net from inside his own blue line.
Waterloo ended the contest with a 43-16 advantage in shots on goal.
The Hawks return to action on Friday, October 14th against the Omaha Lancers, beginning at 7:05 p.m. The first 500 kids in attendance will take advantage of the Hawks' 2022 Youth Jersey Giveaway, presented by SCHEELS and Christie Door Company. For tickets, call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawks-.com.
Tri-City 0 0 1 - 1
Waterloo 0 1 3 - 4
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Sacco Tc (checking from behind), 8:57; Flynn Wat (interference), 14:14; Roukounakis Tc (roughing), 16:30; O'Connell Wat (roughing), 16:30; Hovsepyan Tc (slashing), 18:46.
2nd Period-1, Waterloo, Pionk 2 (Lindberg, Procious), 8:49. Penalties-Adams Tc (holding), 18:02.
3rd Period-2, Waterloo, McLean 1 (Rinzel), 3:33. 3, Waterloo, Thoreson 2 (Robertson), 13:18. 4, Tri-City, Dowiak 1 (Cebrian, Montgomery), 19:01 (PP). 5, Waterloo, Pionk 3 19:47 (SH EN). Penalties-Brown Wat (interference), 14:17; Kerr Wat (roughing), 18:25.
Shots on Goal-Tri-City 5-3-8-16. Waterloo 16-15-12-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Tri-City 1 / 3; Waterloo 0 / 3.
Goalies-Tri-City, Mezsargs 2-1-0-0 (42 shots-39 saves). Waterloo, Croteau 2-2-0-0 (16 shots-15 saves).
A-2,007
Referees-Ryan Siegel.
Linesmen-Greg Offerman (55).
