The Waterloo Black Hawks surged to a 5-2 Friday night win on the strength of four second period goals against the Chicago Steel at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

The matchup was Waterloo's first game against the Steel since a January meeting in the suburbs.  On that occasion, the Hawks recovered from a three-goal deficit for a 5-4 victory thanks to four tallies in the final 20 minutes.
 
Jaedon Kerr appeared in both tilts and started Friday's offensive surge.  The opening period was scoreless, and Kerr's goal from the right wing circle sent the Hawks ahead 1-0, 3:41 out of intermission.  Teddy Townsend set up Kerr from behind the net.  It was the first time Waterloo has scored the opening goal during any game this season.

That initial lead lasted nearly seven minutes.  Chicago answered at 10:30 when Lukas Sawchyn buried the rebound from a first try by Tobias Ohman.

The Hawks took control with three goals in the last four minutes of the second period, including a pair of power play strikes.  At 16:17 – moments after an initial power play faceoff win – Jacob Delaney delivered the puck to the edge of the crease, and Griffin Erdman was waiting there to flip it in.

Waterloo scored nearly as quickly the next time they went to the advantage.  Delaney fed John Mustard near the right faceoff dot, and the forward squeezed a shot to the short side between Christian Manz's glove and left pad at 18:48.

Brock Schultz added one more with 39 seconds left in the period.  Lunging for a rebound near the edge of the crease, Schultz swatted in his first as a Black Hawk.

A miscue during an early third period Steel power play allowed Jakub Altrichter to plant Waterloo's final goal into a wide open net at 2:57.  Manz was along the end boards and put the puck right on Altrichter's stick near the top of the crease.  It was the Hawks' first shorthanded goal of the season.

Waterloo successfully navigated two later Chicago power plays, including more than a minute of five-on-three time in the middle of third.  Calvin Vachon also denied Hans-Martin Ulvebne's penalty shot with just over nine minutes to go.

A late turnover in the Hawks' defensive zone gave Chicago the last tally, slipped in by Mick Thompson at 17:16.

Vachon made 23 saves for his first USHL win.  Waterloo outshot the Steel 36-25.

The Black Hawks begin the home portion of their 2023/24 schedule on Saturday night in Young Arena at 6:05 p.m.  Fans in attendance for the game against the Omaha Lancers can claim a schedule poster, presented by Karen's Print Rite, while supplies last.  Those purchasing a ticket can also claim a seat of equal quality for Waterloo's game on October 20th against the Lincoln Stars.  To order, call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.

Waterloo 0 4 1 - 5
Chicago 0 1 1 - 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Conn Chi (holding), 1:13; Grimes Chi (cross checking), 10:09; Phelan Wat (checking from behind), 15:27; Altrichter Wat (slashing), 19:04.

2nd Period-1, Waterloo, Kerr 2 (Townsend), 3:41. 2, Chicago, Sawchyn 2 (Ohman), 10:30. 3, Waterloo, Erdman 1 (Lindberg, Delaney), 16:17 (PP). 4, Waterloo, Mustard 3 (Delaney), 18:48 (PP). 5, Waterloo, Schultz 1 (Fascia, Townsend), 19:21. Penalties-Deering Wat (holding), 6:32; Ohman Chi (roughing), 16:06; Byfuglien Chi (roughing), 18:32.

3rd Period-6, Waterloo, Altrichter 1   2:57 (SH). 7, Chicago, Thompson 3 (Slipec), 17:16. Penalties-Schultz Wat (tripping), 1:57; Morich Wat (slashing), 6:30; Miller Wat (tripping), 7:40; Nycz Wat (holding), 10:59.

Shots on Goal-Waterloo 15-14-7-36. Chicago 6-5-14-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 2 / 4; Chicago 0 / 6.
Goalies-Waterloo, Vachon 1-1-0-0 (25 shots-23 saves). Chicago, Manz 1-3-0-0 (36 shots-31 saves).
A-1,239
Referees-Eric Arrigo, Default Referee.
Linesmen-Gustav Ahrendt, Christian Johansen.