Western Showdowns

The Waterloo Black Hawks and Des Moines Buccaneers opened the week tied for first place in the USHL Western Conference.  Each club has 11 points since the season started at the Fall Classic, and they meet on both Friday and Saturday during a home-and-home series.  Friday's game in West Des Moines faces off at 7:05 p.m. before Saturday's 6:35 start for the Young Arena rematch.  Although the teams currently share the conference lead, that may no longer be the case by Friday night.  The Fargo Force will overtake both Waterloo and Des Moines if they defeat the Green Bay Gamblers on Thursday evening.

Hockey Games in the Hundreds

This weekend's games add to the considerable history between the Hawks and Buccaneers.  Waterloo has met Des Moines seven or more times each season since 2020/21.  The resulting 49 games are more than against any opponent in that period and swell the all-time series to 264 regular season contests.  The Hawks have claimed 123 of them, while the Buccaneers have celebrated 138 wins.  There were three ties prior to shootouts being implemented in 1996.  Waterloo won five-of-eight head-to-head encounters last season.
 
Sokol Surges Early

Forward Cody Sokol generated two assists last Saturday against the Madison Capitols.  It was his third multipoint game already this season and has pushed him to the Hawks' scoring lead with eight points (two goals, six assists).  The Wisconsin recruit has only been held without a point once in six games during 2026/27.  Sokol's eight points equal his scoring from 29 games played for Green Bay and Waterloo last season.  He joined the Black Hawks for the latter part of last season as the result of a trade for current University of Wisconsin freshman Chase Jette.

Nolan Notes

Dylan Nolan leads the Black Hawks with five goals.  Just as significantly, he is also Waterloo's plus/minus leader (+6).  Nolan's -1 mark last season ranked second among Waterloo players who appeared in at least 15 games.  This season, Nolan and Jackson Rudh of the Lincoln Stars are the only USHL players to have scored on the power play, at even strength, and shorthanded.

Recent Games

Last Saturday, the Black Hawks' 3-2 overtime win against the Madison Capitols was built on power play goals during regulation by Dylan Nolan and Colin Dustin.  The Capitols tied the game during the second period, but Nolan's second of the night early in the overtime delivered the two standings points.  The result was Waterloo's first overtime win since last Halloween, 4-3 on the road at Green Bay.

Saturday, October 10 Madison 2, BLACK HAWKS 3 (OT)  Recap

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The first 1,000 fans in attendance for this Saturday's game will receive a magnetic schedule from Tyson Fresh Meats. It's also a College Night with $10 tickets for all college students with ID. After the game, head for Buffalo Wild Wings in Cedar Falls for a postgame party with select players.  Tickets for all Hawks home games are available from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.