Dylan Nolan and Hayden Russell each scored twice Friday, sending the Waterloo Black Hawks to a 6-3 win against the Dubuque Fighting Saints at Young Arena.

Waterloo has now won six consecutive home openers dating back to 2021.  The crowd of 2,258 was the largest to see the Hawks begin their home schedule since 2023.
 
The Black Hawks scored shorthanded early in the first period, then just before intermission on a power play.  Nolan had both goals.  At 4:24, he took advantage of a miscue for an unassisted shorty.  Two Fighting Saints bumped each other; Nolan swooped in, stepped below the left dot, and put in his low chance.  Then seconds into Waterloo's first advantage, he was camped at the top of the crease and chopped in the rebound of a Caleb Deanovich shot at 18:10.

The Fighting Saints had three consecutive power plays in the third period and produced their breakthrough goal on the last of them.  At 14:30, Melvin Ekman turned in the right circle and slung a short side shot that caught a piece of goalie Charlie Menard and ricochetted in.

Russell stretched the lead 29 seconds into the third period, going to the crease to follow up on his own initial shot.  After the goal was scored, a wrestling match broke out in the netmouth, leading to a Waterloo power play.  Colin Dustin capitalized at 2:22 in similar fashion to Nolan's power play goal in the first, pouncing on a rebound following Rian Marquardt's first try.

The 4-1 lead didn't last long.  Former Hawk Travis Lefere tipped in a shot by Joe Wahlund at 3:30.  Then Joseph Covelluzzi hit the net from the right circle at 6:33.

Cayden Jackman built the Waterloo margin at 11:16.  After a long sequence in the offensive end, he zinged a shot under the crossbar from the top of the right circle with goalie Brandon Wright screened by a defender.

Wright came to the bench with under four minutes left.  Waterloo found the empty net almost two minutes later.  Russell's second of the game originated from along the boards deep in his own zone, skipping in from 150 feet away.

The Black Hawks also play a single home game next weekend.  On Saturday, October 10th, the Madison Capitols visit Young Arena at 6:35.  The first 1,000 fans will receive a 2026/27 schedule poster presented by Karen's Print Rite, and it's 9 to 5 Night, a tribute to Dolly Parton.  For tickets, call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawk.com.

Dubuque 0 1 2 - 3
Waterloo 2 0 4 - 6

1st Period-1, Waterloo, Nolan 2   4:24 (SH). 2, Waterloo, Nolan 3 (Deanovich, Jinman), 18:10 (PP). Penalties-Langfeld Wat (hooking), 2:47; Krizizke Dbq (roughing), 17:56.

2nd Period-3, Dubuque, Ekman 3 (Darth, Krizizke), 14:30 (PP). Penalties-Jinman Wat (slashing), 6:19; Jackman Wat (high sticking), 11:09; Malinek Wat (slashing), 13:30.

3rd Period-4, Waterloo, Russell 2 (Sokol, Malinek), 0:29. 5, Waterloo, Dustin 2 (Sokol, Marquardt), 2:22 (PP). 6, Dubuque, Lefere 2 (Wahlund, Zhukov), 3:30. 7, Dubuque, Covelluzzi 2 (Wahlund, Johnson), 6:33. 8, Waterloo, Jackman 1 (Langfeld, Russell), 11:16. 9, Waterloo, Russell 3 (Russell), 17:58 (EN). Penalties-Ekman Dbq (roughing), 0:29; Lohse Dbq (roughing), 0:29; Richards Dbq (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 0:29; Malinek Wat (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 0:29; Russell Wat (roughing), 0:29.

Shots on Goal-Dubuque 11-12-7-30. Waterloo 12-9-15-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Dubuque 1 / 4; Waterloo 2 / 2.
Goalies-Dubuque, Wright 1-1-0-0 (35 shots-30 saves). Waterloo, Menard 2-0-1-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-2,258