The Des Moines Buccaneers led for much of Saturday's game, pulling away late to defeat the Waterloo Black Hawks 5-2 at Buccaneer Arena.

The result sends Waterloo to Christmas break with a 3-3-0 record during December.  The Hawks are currently fifth in the USHL Western Conference, two points ahead of Des Moines and two behind the Tri-City Storm and Sioux Falls Stampede, who are tied for third.
 
The Buccaneers scored the only goal of the first period during the game's opening shifts.  Andrew Clarke connected on a pass across the slot, finding Chris Battaini speeding up left wing.  Battaini quickly turned the pass toward the crease to score in transition.

It took until 14:53 of the second for the Hawks to tie it up.  The Buccaneers turned it over to Jacob Delaney near the top of the left circle.  He took a couple of strides into the slot before snapping a wrister past Ethan Dahlmeir.

Des Moines broke the tie and started the decisive third period with a go-ahead goal at 1:50.  Paul Minnehan stole the puck at center and stepped up ice; his pass to Ben Kevan pinballed before coming to rest across the goal line.

At 11:15, Lubomir Kupco banged in a rebound to extend the lead.  Then Ilya Protas added another insurance goal just seconds into a power play at 15:56.

Waterloo drew a goal back just less than a minute later.  Skating with an extra attacker, Grady Deering set up Tyler Miller with a pass from behind the Des Moines net.  Miller squeezed in his shot from the left circle.

However, Owen Dyer capped the scoring with an empty net goal from his own zone at 18:36 following a Buccaneer faceoff win.

The Black Hawks return from the United States Hockey League's holiday break to host the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17s on Thursday, December 28th.  The game is a College Night at Young Arena; $10 tickets are available to all college students with ID.  Seats are also available from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.

Waterloo 0 1 1 - 2
Des Moines 1 0 4 - 5

1st Period-1, Des Moines, Battaini 1 (Clarke, Protas), 3:46. Penalties-Deering Wat (roughing), 7:38; Delaney Wat (checking from behind), 13:23.

2nd Period-2, Waterloo, Delaney 5   14:53. Penalties-West Dm (major-cross checking, game misconduct-cross checking), 1:57; Townsend Wat (interference), 3:39; Fascia Wat (tripping), 7:44; Deering Wat (roughing), 16:42; Dyer Dm (roughing), 16:42.

3rd Period-3, Des Moines, Kevan 12 (Minnehan), 1:50. 4, Des Moines, Kupco 9 (Delladonna, Dyer), 11:15. 5, Des Moines, Protas 5 (Kernan, Bewick), 15:56 (PP). 6, Waterloo, Miller 5 (Deering, Jette), 16:53. 7, Des Moines, Dyer 2 (Ford), 18:36 (EN). Penalties-Brown Wat (major-fighting, misconduct-fighting), 0:58; Ford Dm (major-fighting, misconduct-fighting), 0:58; Thoreson Wat (roughing), 5:58; Goffredo Dm (roughing), 5:58; Mustard Wat (high sticking), 15:49.

Shots on Goal-Waterloo 13-13-4-30. Des Moines 7-5-7-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 0 / 1; Des Moines 1 / 4.
Goalies-Waterloo, Vachon 12-4-0-0 (18 shots-14 saves). Des Moines, Dahlmeir 8-8-0-0 (30 shots-28 saves).
A-1,712