It wasn't the wildest New Year's Eve at Young Arena, but the Waterloo crowd of 2,730 had plenty to talk about after a 7-5 Black Hawks victory against the Youngstown Phantoms Saturday.

Waterloo has played on New Year's Eve every year since 1998.  Saturday's game was the fifth time the Hawks have scored seven or more goals on the pseudo-holiday.  The all-time high came during an 11-5 win against the Sioux Falls Stampede back in 2002.
 
The Black Hawks were never quite on pace to challenge that scoring total, but they did take the lead less than three minutes into the action Saturday.  Waterloo converted two first period power plays, but the Youngstown Phantoms responded each time.  In both early special teams situations, it was Garrett Schifsky positioning himself just outside the crease to tip a shot by Ben Robertson.  The first of those goals at 2:44 gave Waterloo the lead for nearly four minutes, until the Phantoms' James Fisher put back the rebound of a shot by Andon Cerbone at 6:22.

Schifsky's second goal at 12:18 resulted in a new lead, but the Youngstown levelled the score at 16:48, turning a four-on-two rush into the equalizer.  It came in the form of a one-timer by Tyler Catalano from near the left dot.

The Phantoms swung in front for the only time as netminder Jacob Fowler helped his team catch the Hawks in a change.  Fowler found Shane LaChance at the Waterloo blue line, and LaChance clicked with Matthew Perkins cutting across the top of the crease to lift a shot to the top corner.

It was all Hawks for the rest of the period.  Waterloo tied the game with their third power play goal of the night at 7:54.  Owen Baker's low shot to Fowler's stick side was set up from behind the net by Griffin Erdman.  

Waterloo went back ahead while the teams skated four-on-four at 11:41.  On an odd-man rush, Schifsky sprang Aaron Pionk through the slot, and the defenseman snapped in a chance from close range.  Another rush yielded another Hawks goal at 13:47; Baker's shot from the right circle was trickling through the crease, with James Hong on the spot to spike it into an open side.

The Hawks extended the run with two more third period goals which proved to be crucial.  Zach Bade buried the fourth Waterloo power play score of the night at 1:54, set up in the left circle for a one-timer on a pass across the slot from Pionk.

Then Caden Brown made a brilliant pass for an assist in his Black Hawks home debut.  Coming into the zone one left wing, Brown's behind-the-back feed clicked with Gavin O'Connell, who dodged Fowler near the top of the crease to flip in a shot at 12:17.

Youngstown cut Waterloo's 7-3 lead in half during the time that remained.  At 16:29, Tomas Machu stole a clearing attempt and found the net through traffic from just inside the blue line.  Then with 1:38 to go, Perkins snapped in his second of the game from the left circle.

That brought the Phantoms close enough to lift Fowler for much of the remaining time, but there was no change in score with the Youngstown net empty.

Spicer picked up the win with 28 saves, while Fowler made 37 stops in the loss.

The Hawks open the 2023 portion of their schedule on home ice Friday against the Sioux City Musketeers on Superhero Night, presented by Christie Door Company.  The 7:05 p.m. game is also a Domino's Family 4-Pack Night with four tickets, four sodas, four chuck-a-pucks, and a large Domino's pizza for $60.  To order a 4-Pack, visit waterlooblackhawks.com.

Youngstown 2 1 2 - 5
Waterloo 2 3 2 - 7

1st Period-1, Waterloo, Schifsky 10 (Robertson, Bade), 2:44 (PP). 2, Youngstown, Fisher 3 (Cerbone), 6:22. 3, Waterloo, Schifsky 11 (Robertson, Pionk), 12:18 (PP). 4, Youngstown, Catalano 5 (Strathmann, Pietila), 16:48. Penalties-Lachance Yng (tripping), 1:50; Strathmann Yng (roughing), 11:46; Broberg Wat (roughing), 18:39.

2nd Period-5, Youngstown, Perkins 5 (Lachance, Fowler), 1:39. 6, Waterloo, Baker 5 (Erdman, Rinzel), 7:54 (PP). 7, Waterloo, Pionk 6 (Schifsky), 11:41. 8, Waterloo, Hong 9 (Baker, Geary), 13:47. Penalties-Willson Yng (high sticking), 6:15; Cerbone Yng (bench - coach), 10:03; Baker Wat (high sticking), 11:03; Schifsky Wat (tripping), 16:05.

3rd Period-9, Waterloo, Bade 5 (Pionk), 1:54 (PP). 10, Waterloo, O'Connell 5 (Brown, Hong), 12:17. 11, Youngstown, Machu 2   16:29. 12, Youngstown, Perkins 6 (Rozzi, de Haro), 18:22. Penalties-Williams Yng (roughing), 1:23; Chaly Wat (high sticking), 2:18; Pietila Yng (cross checking), 7:11; Bade Wat (interference), 13:17; Centrella Yng (roughing, misconduct-continuing altercation), 17:53; Lachance Yng (roughing), 17:53; Brown Wat (roughing), 17:53; Erdman Wat (roughing, misconduct-continuing altercation), 17:53.

Shots on Goal-Youngstown 14-6-13-33. Waterloo 16-18-10-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Youngstown 0 / 5; Waterloo 4 / 6.
Goalies-Youngstown, Fowler 7-6-3-1 (44 shots-37 saves). Waterloo, Spicer 9-4-0-0 (33 shots-28 saves).
A-2,730
Referees-Hunter Mottinger.
Linesmen-Aaron McCrary, Tyler Willie.