Jack Spicer made big saves throughout and James Hong saved the day in the Waterloo Black Hawks' 5-4 Saturday night shootout victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at Young Arena.

It was the first time Waterloo had been to a shootout this season.  The Hawks had also won in overtime by the same score on Friday against the Des Moines Buccaneers.  

In Saturday's game, Spicer matched a career high with 36 saves, including four in overtime.  The RoughRiders outshot Waterloo in every period, finishing the night with a 40-30 edge in chances.
 
With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Cedar Rapids forward Jacob Kraft broke a 3-3 tie with a chance from just outside the crease.  However, Hong provided the nearly-immediate response with 2:51 to go in the game.  Aaron Pionk collected the puck near the Waterloo blue line and slipped it to Gavin O'Connell.  Hong caught up with O'Connell's soft dump in behind the RoughRider defense, cutting to the net from the bottom of the right circle and slipping a low shot through Sam Scopa.

After a frantic but scoreless overtime, Kraft missed the net on the first Cedar Rapids shootout try, and Hong nudged Waterloo ahead with a low wrister.  Spicer got a piece of Ryan Walsh's second round attempt, allowing Zach Bade to clinch the result with a flip shot to the top corner.

Waterloo is now 3-0 in games settled by overtimes or shootouts in 2022/23.

An eventful first period began with the Black Hawks jumping in front at 3:14.  Owen Baker gained control of the puck in the right corner and moved behind the net before feeding a pass back into the slot.  Myles Hilman was waiting and beat Scopa to the glove side.

Cedar Rapids converted a pair of power plays to swing in front.  At 4:50, Eric Pohlkamp held in a clearing attempt at the right point.  Three other RoughRiders touched the puck within moments, resulting in Dylan Hryckowian's goal from the right circle.  Then at 13:06, Hryckowian set up Ryan Walsh to score in a wrister from just above the left dot.

The Hawks broke through for a power play goal at 9:09 of the third.  David Klee brought the puck from behind the net before it went pinballing across the net mouth to Marcus Broberg in the right circle.  The Swedish defenseman was left with an open side and lifted in his chance.

On a night where neither team could ever establish a two-goal lead, Oliver Flynn pushed the Hawks ahead for the final time in regulation with his first USHL goal at 2:56 of the third.  It was a similar chance to Hilman's tally in the opening period, created from behind the net by Grayson Badger and Connor Brown.

The 3-2 lead held until the RoughRiders scored a third power play goal on their fifth and final advantage.  Zaccharya Wisdom's slick pass from the side of the net to the top of the crease gave Martins Lavins an easy finish.

From October 29th through Saturday night Waterloo played 12 of 13 games on home ice, emerging from the crucial sequence with nine victories.

The Hawks go on the road for their final two games before Christmas.  Waterloo will travel to Des Moines and Omaha next weekend.

Cedar Rapids 2 0 2 0 - 4
Waterloo 1 1 2 0 - 5

1st Period-1, Waterloo, Hilman 8 (Baker, Erdman), 3:14. 2, Cedar Rapids, Hryckowian 9 (Kraft, Gross), 4:50 (PP). 3, Cedar Rapids, Walsh 9 (Hryckowian, Gross), 13:06 (PP). Penalties-Kerr Wat (checking from behind), 4:26; Schumacher Wat (holding), 12:06; Wisdom Cr (holding), 14:53; Grable Cr (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 19:35; Flynn Wat (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 19:35.

2nd Period-4, Waterloo, Broberg 3 (O'Connell, Klee), 9:09 (PP). Penalties-Badger Wat (tripping), 1:37; Johnson Cr (high sticking), 4:59; Elliott Cr (high sticking dbl minor), 8:28; Hilman Wat (roughing), 8:28; Geary Wat (boarding), 12:42.

3rd Period-5, Waterloo, Flynn 1 (Brown, Badger), 2:56. 6, Cedar Rapids, Lavins 4 (Wisdom, Fitzgerald), 12:00 (PP). 7, Cedar Rapids, Kraft 5 (Gross, Elliott), 16:04. 8, Waterloo, Hong 7 (Pionk, O'Connell), 17:09. Penalties-Green Cr (high sticking), 3:29; Klee Wat (checking from behind), 11:11; Fitzgerald Cr (cross checking), 13:39.

1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Cedar Rapids 0 (Kraft NG, Walsh NG), Waterloo 2 (Hong G, Bade G).
Shots on Goal-Cedar Rapids 14-10-12-4-0-40. Waterloo 10-9-7-3-1-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Cedar Rapids 3 / 5; Waterloo 1 / 5.
Goalies-Cedar Rapids, Scopa 2-4-1-1 (29 shots-25 saves). Waterloo, Spicer 8-2-0-0 (40 shots-36 saves).
A-2,165
Referees-Chazz Knoche, Jake Muzik.
Linesmen-Zach Carson, James McQuesten.