The Dubuque Fighting Saints overcame the Waterloo Black Hawks' early lead and skated to a 6-3 victory at ImOn Arena Sunday.

Although the Hawks jumped in front during the first period, they could not stay out of reach while playing their third game in three days.  The Saints had Friday off and rebounded on Sunday from a Saturday overtime loss  in Waterloo.
 
The Black Hawks put a couple of power plays to good use during the opening 20 minutes.  Sal Viviano scored from each circle on assists by Miles Jinman and Caleb Deanovich.  The first goal was from the right ring at 3:31 on the follow up to Deanovich's initial try.  Then back on the advantage at 12:52, Viviano skated from the right boards, across the high slot before letting go of a successful shot from just above the dot.

Dubuque erased Black Hawks' leads twice in the second period.  Their initial comeback began when Arsienii Voroteliak put a long wrister under the crossbar at 5:24.  Then Kris Richards tied the game when he slung the puck through traffic and into the net at 8:19.

Waterloo reassumed the lead at 13:34.  Cody Sokol was behind the net and caught Josh Banini leaning the wrong way; the Hawks' leading point-produced banked in a chance from below the goal line off of Banini's left pad.

However, the Saints tied the game again with 39.1 seconds left before intermission.  Voroteliak clicked on a circle-to-circle pass, leaving Kane Johnson with an open side for the equalizer.

Cruz Martin put Dubuque ahead for the first time at 8:15 of the third, hitting the net on a low shot from the slot.  Three-and-a-half minutes later, Johnson built the lead, double-clutching a feed which originated behind the net, but ultimately lifting the puck to the top corner.

With 2:21 to go, Trevor Theuer added an empty net score from the Hawks blue line.

Waterloo was held to 18 shots, including just four in the third period.  Dubuque finished with 31.

The Hawks are back home Friday for Country Night, presented by Texas Roadhouse.  The 6:35 game against the Lincoln Stars is also The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Kickoff for their 2026 Christmas campaign.  The first 1,000 fans will receive a free Kwik Star Glazer, Dunker, or Cake Donut on Kwik Rewards Night.  And it's also a Chick-fil-A Family 4 Pack game; four tickets, four chuck-a-pucks, and 32 Chick-fil-A nuggets are available in a package for $68.  Order seats from the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office by calling (319) 291-7680 or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.

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

1st Period-1, Waterloo, Viviano 7 (Deanovich, Jinman), 3:31 (PP). 2, Waterloo, Viviano 8 (Jinman, Deanovich), 12:52 (PP). Penalties-Richards Dbq (hooking), 3:17; Malinek Wat (roughing), 10:39; Ekman Dbq (roughing), 10:39; Richards Dbq (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:16; Nolan Wat (cross checking), 16:13.

2nd Period-3, Dubuque, Voroteliak 5 (Lind), 5:24. 4, Dubuque, Richards 1 (Lind, Voroteliak), 8:19. 5, Waterloo, Sokol 6 (Russell), 13:34. 6, Dubuque, Johnson 3 (Voroteliak, Lind), 19:21. Penalties-Ekman Dbq (holding), 14:08.

3rd Period-7, Dubuque, Martin 1 (Krizizke), 8:15. 8, Dubuque, Johnson 4 (Brierley), 11:49. 9, Dubuque, Theuer 2   17:39 (EN). Penalties-Lind Dbq (checking from behind), 3:15.

Shots on Goal-Waterloo 5-9-4-18. Dubuque 7-14-10-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 2 / 4; Dubuque 0 / 1.
Goalies-Waterloo, Menard 4-1-2-0 (30 shots-25 saves). Dubuque, Banini 1-0-1-0 (18 shots-15 saves).
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