An Important Starting Point

The first of Waterloo's 11 wins this season came on September 18th during the USHL Fall Classic against the Youngstown Phantoms.  Nearly two months later, the teams meet again on Friday (6 p.m. Central) and Saturday (5 p.m. Central) in Eastern Ohio.  Waterloo's 5-2 victory on neutral ice in Chicago contributed to the Hawks' 7-0-2 opening run.  The matchup with the Phantoms was the second game of the season for both clubs and saw a combined seven different skaters score goals.  Each player who did, recorded his first goal of the season that afternoon.  The Phantoms have been involved in some high-scoring matchups this fall; five of their 15 games in 2026/27 – including both last weekend – have featured 10 combined goals or more.

Distant Destinations

There are approximately 906 miles between the Ice Box in Lincoln, Nebraska (site of the Hawks' last game) and the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio (where Waterloo plays Friday).  It is the farthest distance between Waterloo's consecutive game sites in more than a decade.  On December 19, 2015, the Black Hawks edged Youngstown 4-3 in a shootout on the last game night before Christmas.  Coming back from the holiday break on December 29th, Waterloo lost in Lincoln 3-2.
 
New, Better Season

Last year, the Black Hawks finished at the bottom of the United States Hockey League standings, while the Lethbridge Hurricanes were last in the Western Hockey League.  Tomas Malinek spent 2025/26 with the Alberta-based club before moving to Iowa this fall.  In 59 games for the Hurricanes, Malinek was -16 (actually seventh-best among Hurricanes players with 10 or more appearances).  This year, the defenseman leads the resurgent Black Hawks with a +7 plus/minus through 15 appearances.

Back in Action

Forward Colin Dustin returned to action Friday.  The Niagara recruit had missed seven consecutive games.  Facing the Lincoln Stars, Dustin tallied his first assist of the season.  He now has four points (three goals, one assist) – all on the power play – in eight games during his first USHL season.   

Recent Games

The Black Hawks won home and away games against the Lincoln Stars last weekend.  Friday at Young Arena, Keegan Davis scored twice during a 5-1 victory.  The game was tied 1-1 during the second before Waterloo recorded three consecutive power play goals to open up a comfortable margin by the early third.  Then in Lincoln Saturday, Cody Sokol scored in the second period, before Caleb Deanovich found the net in the third.  A late Stars goal led to a tense finish, but the Hawks held on, prevailing 2-1. 

Friday, November 6 Lincoln 1, BLACK HAWKS 5  Recap
Saturday, November 7 BLACK HAWKS 2, Lincoln 1  Recap

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The first 500 kids (aged 4-12) in attendance will take home a free kids jersey from Christie Door Company during the next Hawks home game.  Waterloo hosts the Sioux Falls Stampede at 6:35 p.m. on November 20th.  Use code kids2026 for special pricing on kids tickets for that game.  Order around the clock from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.