Farthest North

This season, the Black Hawks won't travel any further north than Fargo, North Dakota, the site for games this Friday (7:05 p.m.) and Saturday (6:05 p.m.).  Both Waterloo and the Fargo Force returned from last week's United States Hockey League Fall Classic in Chicago with one win.  The Force are coming off a 2025/26 season which featured 38 victories and a second place finish in the USHL Western Conference.  Fargo's roster is highlighted by goaltender Samuel Hrenak, a third-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets last summer.  Last week, Hrenak held the Green Bay Gamblers to one goal during a 2-1 Fargo victory. 

Scoring Variety

In just two games, seven different Waterloo Black Hawks have scored a goal.  All of that offense has been produced by forwards.  Noa Nsonsa Kitala is the only member of the group to score his first career goal in USHL competition.  On the other end of the spectrum, Salvatore Viviano now has 17 league goals after finding the net during a power play last Friday versus Youngstown.  If an eighth different Hawk joins that group of goal scorers without a repeat, it will be the widest array of goal-producers to start a Waterloo season since 2020/21.
 
Experience the Difference

Jordan Geike's second period goal against the Youngstown Phantoms proved to be the game-winner during Waterloo's 5-2 Friday result. Geike's last USHL tally was on January 30, 2024, when he was a member of the Sioux Falls Stampede.  In between, the Minnesota native made 104 regular season appearances in the British Columbia Hockey League for the Chilliwack Chiefs, Nanaimo Clippers, and Langley Rivermen. Geike is the oldest player on the 2026/27 Black Hawks roster and will turn 21 in early January.

Only OT (So Far)

For the second straight year, the Black Hawks were involved in the USHL's first overtime game of the season.  In September of 2025, Waterloo fell to Muskegon in a shootout, 4-3.  Last Thursday, the Lumberjacks edged the Hawks again, 3-2, with a sudden-death power play goal.  Waterloo ultimately played a league-low five overtimes last winter.  The Hawks' record was 1-4 when combining overtime (1-2) and shootout (0-2) finishes. 

Recent Games

The Black Hawks completed the USHL Fall Classic with a 1-0-1 record.  Last Thursday, Waterloo opened with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Muskegon Lumberjacks, as Muskegon came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to tally the decisive goal on a power play.  The Hawks recovered on Friday, upending the Youngstown Phantoms 5-2.  Hayden Russell (goal, assist) and Miles Jinman (two assists) both produced two points on Waterloo power plays, as the Hawks went two-for-four in that special teams category.

Thursday, September 17 MUSKEGON 3, Black Hawks 2 (OT)  Recap
Friday, September 18 BLACK HAWKS 5, Youngstown 2  Recap

Minnesota Coaches is dedicated to upholding a pristine over-the-road reputation built over more than 30 years. The official travel partner of the Black Hawks offers a state-of-the-art fleet of vehicles and has the highest standards in the industry.  Travel in safety and comfort when you use Minnesota Coaches for all your transportation needs.

Tickets are on sale now for the Waterloo Black Hawks' home opener on Friday, October 2nd against the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 6:35 p.m.  It will be the 65th consecutive season of hockey in Waterloo; arrive early for a commemorative giveaway.  Tickets for October 2nd and all Hawks home games are available around the clock from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.