Gavyn Thoreson scored the game-winning goal, on top of two earlier assists, during Friday's 3-2 Waterloo Black Hawks overtime win against the Des Moines Buccaneers at Young Arena.

Thoreson's three-point night pushes him to a team-leading 54 points this winter.  His 39 assists are currently the most in the United States Hockey League.
 
Waterloo was on a power play with Thoreson handling the puck at 2:17 of overtime.  He attempted to slip a pass across the slot to Tyler Miller, but the puck ricocheted off a defender and inside the post to the right of Des Moines goalie Ethan Dahlmeir.

Two standings points from the win – coupled with a Sioux City Musketeers loss – moved the Hawks to within one point of second place in the USHL Western Conference with 13 games remaining.

The Buccaneers had scored the only goal in the first period at 5:01.  A Waterloo pass was swiped at the Des Moines blue line, and Ilya Protas raced up the ice to push a low shot past Calvin Vachon.

The Hawks tied the score early in the second during the only power play of the first 40 minutes.  At 1:04, Gavin Lindberg received Thoreson's pass at the edge of the crease; with his back to the net, Lindberg spun counterclockwise and slung a low chance past Dahlmeir.

Theo Kiss gave Des Moines a new lead at 8:34.  The Slovakian forward collected a rebound, then circled behind the Hawks' net to score on a wraparound.

Grady Deering produced the Hawks' only even-strength goal at 16:11.  Deering tipped Will Felicio's shot, which hit the post.  However, Deering bulled his way to the loose puck in the crease to make sure it would find its way across the goal line.

The Black Hawks remain on home ice Saturday against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 6:05 p.m.  Waterloo will celebrate the team's 2004 Clark Cup Championship with throwback jerseys which will be auctioned after the game.  The first 1,000 fans in attendance will also receive a Joe Pavelski bobblehead doll, presented by U.S. Bank.  Seats are still available from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.

Des Moines 1 1 0 0 - 2
Waterloo 0 2 0 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Des Moines, Protas 11   5:01. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-2, Waterloo, Lindberg 15 (Thoreson, Compton), 1:03 (PP). 3, Des Moines, Kiss 2 (Gramer, Kernan), 8:34. 4, Waterloo, Deering 12 (Felicio, Thoreson), 16:11. Penalties-Kernan Dm (high sticking), 0:36.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bewick Dm (tripping), 4:36; Fascia Wat (high sticking), 14:36.

1st OT Period-5, Waterloo, Thoreson 15 (Miller, Compton), 2:17 (PP). Penalties-Ford Dm (tripping), 1:53.

Shots on Goal-Des Moines 7-8-6-2-23. Waterloo 11-15-10-2-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Des Moines 0 / 1; Waterloo 2 / 3.
Goalies-Des Moines, Dahlmeir 16-17-1-0 (38 shots-35 saves). Waterloo, Vachon 19-6-0-0 (23 shots-21 saves).
A-2,319