Five different Black Hawks scored Friday, lifting Waterloo to a 5-2 win over the Youngstown Phantoms during the United States Hockey League Fall Classic at USG Arena in Chicago.
The Hawks roll away from the season-opening event with three of four possible points. On Thursday, the Muskegon Lumberjacks had wrestled away a 3-2 overtime decision at Waterloo's expense.
For the second consecutive game, the Hawks took the lead with an opening period score. Dylan Nolan notched Friday's early tally at 10:39, redirecting Jimmy Rieber's shot from the right point moments after a Waterloo power play ended.
The lead lasted just less than four minutes before Brody Berard recorded the equalizer at 14:14. After receiving a saucer pass near the top of the right circle, Berard put his attempt off the opposite post and in.
Waterloo's first power play goal of the season reestablished the lead at 10:14 of the second. Hayden Russell hit Salvatore Viviano with a circle-to-circle feed, giving Viviano a split-second to target his shot to the top corner as Owen Lepak slid through the crease a moment too late.
Then Jordan Geike added to the lead at 14:46, scoring on a low shot off of Lepak following a Phantoms turnover between the rings.
Yet, the Phantoms were within one at intermission, capitalizing during a five-on-three power play at 17:35 when Wilhelm Hasselhuhn zinged in a low attempt.
The Black Hawks did the only scoring in the third period, reestablishing a two-goal lead at 8:33. It was a power play score created by Miles Jinman, who avoided a pair of defenders at the Youngstown blueline. While he was losing his balance, Jinman shoveled the puck in front of Russell, who took a couple of big strides toward the net, then beat Lepak low to the glove side.
Youngstown sent a sixth attacker to the ice with just under four minutes remaining, but Toby Carlson eventually found a loose puck at center and sealed the Waterloo victory into the empty net at 18:21.
Waterloo's Sebastian Charvat claimed the win during his USHL debut with 20 saves.
The Hawks play their first true road games of the 2026/27 season next weekend, traveling to North Dakota for games against the Fargo Force next Friday and Saturday.
Waterloo 1 2 2 - 5
Youngstown 1 1 0 - 2
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Nolan 1 (Rieber, Russell), 10:39. 2, Youngstown, Berard 1 (Guolla, Mars), 14:14. Penalties-Russell Wat (hooking), 3:24; Anderson Yng (hooking), 8:17; Russell Wat (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:52.
2nd Period-3, Waterloo, Viviano 1 (Russell, Jinman), 10:14 (PP). 4, Waterloo, Geike 1 (Davis), 14:46. 5, Youngstown, Hasselhuhn 1 (Koltsov, Anderson), 17:35 (PP). Penalties-Mars Yng (roughing), 3:45; Pietila Yng (tripping), 8:32; Carlson Wat (roughing), 16:29; Jinman Wat (high sticking dbl minor), 16:29.
3rd Period-6, Waterloo, Russell 1 (Jinman, Deanovich), 8:33 (PP). 7, Waterloo, Carlson 1 18:21 (EN). Penalties-Conroy Yng (slashing), 7:17; Davis Wat (interference), 9:07.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 10-8-7-25. Youngstown 8-7-7-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 2 / 4; Youngstown 1 / 6.
Goalies-Waterloo, Charvat 1-0-0-0 (22 shots-20 saves). Youngstown, Lepak 0-2-0-0 (24 shots-20 saves).
