Finishing October, Starting November

The Black Hawks play twice on home ice to cap the current month, then begin November with a short, in-state trip on Sunday.  The sequence opens against the Sioux City Musketeers Friday at 6:35.  During 11 of the last 13 head-to-head meetings, Waterloo and Sioux City have combined for six or more goals.  In fact, since the beginning of 2023/24, the typical Hawks-Musketeers game has finished with 7.8 total goals.  Then Saturday, Waterloo meets the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 3:05 p.m.  The Black Hawks won a 6-3 tilt with the Fighting Saints to open the home schedule on October 2nd.  The same two clubs then square off for a rematch the next day in Dubuque at 5:05 p.m.

Halloween History

The Black Hawks celebrated their only overtime win during the 2025/26 season last Halloween.  Sal Viviano lifted Waterloo to the 4-3 result after Ty Mason's game-tying goal with just over a minute to go in the third.  However, Halloween has included more tricks than treats.  The Hawks are 5-7-0 on the holiday during the team's junior era.  The only previous Halloween game at Young Arena was a 6-0 loss to the National Team Development Program Under 18s in 1999.  Saturday will only be Waterloo's fifth Halloween game this century.
 

High Scoring, High Risk

Both of this week's opponents score more goals per game than the Black Hawks (3.3).  Sioux City averages 3.6 goals per contest, led by NHL Central Scouting "C" prospect Daniil Butin with six.  Dubuque has three different six-goal scorers and ranks third in the league with a 4.1 goals per game average.  Both opponents also allow more goals (Sioux City 3.6, Dubuque 4.2) than Waterloo (2.4).

Penalty Shot Drought

Hayden Russell was denied on a penalty shot last Friday in Madison.  The Black Hawks had not even been awarded a penalty shot opportunity since a Reid Morich attempt on February 17, 2024, more than two full seasons ago.  Russell is the fourth consecutive Hawks forward to be foiled on a penalty shot bid.  Waterloo's last successful conversion was on January 14, 2020 by Dane Montgomery.  Despite Montgomery's second period goal that night, the Tri-City Storm won the game at Young Arena 4-3.  

Recent Games

The Black Hawks jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first period last Friday against the Madison Capitols.  Sal Viviano and Hayden Russell notched the early goals.  However, the game was tied by the late second period, and Madison eventually pulled out a 3-2 overtime win.  Waterloo would not lead during Saturday's rematch, falling 6-2.  Goals by Keegan Davis and Dylan Nolan came after the Capitols initially established a 4-0 lead. 

Friday, October 23 Black Hawks 2, MADISON 3 (OT)  Recap
Saturday, October 24 Black Hawks 2, MADISON 6  Recap

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Check out the Scary Good Deal for either of the Black Hawks' home games Halloween weekend.  On October 30th, Waterloo hosts the Sioux City Musketeers at 6:35, then October 31st, the  Dubuque Fighting Saints visit at 3:05.  The Scary Good Deal includes four attack zone tickets for either game, plus four chuck-a-pucks, two trick-or-treat pails, and two fearsome hockey goalie masks, all for $64.  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.