Black Hawks Trample Stampede, 8-3

The Sioux Falls Stampede erased most of a third period deficit, but the Waterloo Black Hawks held off their hosts Friday at Sioux Falls Arena, pulling away late for an 8-3 victory behind Liam Pecararo’s hat trick.

The score stood at 4-0 Waterloo with 13 minutes remaining, but Tony Calderone knocked a puck into the net from close range to break up Cal Petersen’s shutout bid. C.J. Franklin blasted a shorthanded chance to the top corner on a setup by Conner Valesano less than three-and-a-half minutes later, and a turnover left Dennis Kravchenko with an open net to make the score 4-3 at 12:30.

However, following a Waterloo timeout and a missed scoring chance by Keith Burchett, Pecararo scored his second goal of the game within 22 seconds of Kravchenko’s marker, banking a shot off of a defenseman and into the net from below the goal line. Then with 3:36 remaining, Burchett was given a five minute major for checking Mark Friedman from behind, and Waterloo was able to pull away.

For the second consecutive game, the Hawks scored three times during the same five minute major power play; all three conversions Friday came in a 38 second span. Pecararo completed his hat trick at 17:20, knocking in Alec McCrea’s shot which was trickling toward the goal line off of netminder Arthur Brey. Seventeen seconds later and with a second delayed penalty coming, John Wiitala redirected a shot from just outside the crease. Then with 2:02 to go, Drew Melanson slipped a puck under Brey.

Waterloo had gotten off to a strong start. Just 3:52 after the opening faceoff, Tim Lappin stopped quickly behind the Sioux Falls net, changed directions, and set up Blake Winiecki just outside the crease with an open goal. Winiecki didn’t need any help on his second tally at 16:58, forcing a turnover before beating Brey with a low shot to the goaltender’s left.

Waterloo’s pattern continued in the second with goals early and late in the period. Dane Cooper’s spring pass allowed Pecararo to move into the offensive zone and fire a shot to the top corner, short side, from the left wing circle at 58 seconds. Then with two minutes remaining before intermission, Zach Sanford beat Brey from nearly the same spot with a wrister to the other side of the net.

Petersen made 23 saves for his league-leading 18th victory of the season. Brey took the loss while making 31 stops.

The Hawks follow up their whirlwind visit to South Dakota with a home game Saturday versus the Des Moines Buccaneers. The 7:05 contest will feature cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, presented by U.S. Bank. Tickets for the game are still available from waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.

For Friday's box score, please click on the link below:
http://ushl2011.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=2234587