Black Hawks Win in OT, Tied For Anderson Cup

Blake Winiecki scored in overtime Saturday, giving the Black Hawks a 4-3 win at Young Arena against the Sioux Falls Stampede, the United States Hockey League Western Conference title, and a brand new start in the battle for the Anderson Cup.

Not quite halfway through extra time, Brandon Montour worked the puck up left wing, out of the corner, and into the slot. It slid from there to Winiecki at the right faceoff dot, and he snapped a wrist shot low to the stick side past David Jacobson.

To the delight of 2,928 fans, the Hawks clinched their first USHL Western Conference championship. It’s Waterloo’s third year in the West. The Black Hawks’ last regular season conference or division crown was claimed in 2006/07, when the club was based in the Eastern Division. That year, Waterloo also won the overall regular season championship, the Anderson Cup. Coupled with the Indiana Ice’s 3-2 loss at Dubuque Saturday, the Hawks and Ice are now tied for the Anderson Cup lead in 2013/14. Both teams have just three games remaining before the season concludes next weekend.

Saturday’s first scoring play occurred at 5:37 of the first period. The rebound of Patrick Russell’s shot setup Liam Pecararo for the first goal of the game. From a sharp angle below the left circle, Pecararo’s chance was flipped in from pointblank range. Sioux Falls tied the contest at 17:03, taking momentum from a successful penalty kill and scoring on a rush up ice, when a pass across the rink made it to Zeb Knutson, who shot from the left circle. It took just 51 seconds for Waterloo to move back in front. Peter Krieger won an offensive zone faceoff back to Pecararo, whose shot went into the net off of Jacobson’s glove.

In the second, Sioux Falls blitzed the Hawks for two goals in 29 seconds. Tony Calderone’s diving play below the goal line sent the puck into the slot, and Dennis Kravchenko rattled it in off the iron at 14:45. Then a turnover at center allowed Christian Horn a breakaway chance, which he flipped into the net past Cameron Johnson. The Stampede lead lasted less than three minutes before Waterloo evened the count during a power play; Peter Krieger scored over Jacobson’s left shoulder at 17:55, from nearly the same spot where Winiecki would deliver the winner in overtime.

The two goaltenders were perfect during a nervous third period. Johnson ultimately claimed his tenth win since being traded from the Fargo Force. He made 32 saves, while Jacobson turned away 38 chances.

The Hawks leave the state of Iowa for the final time during the regular season on Sunday, visiting the Green Bay Gamblers at 3:05. It’s an opportunity for Waterloo to pull ahead in the Anderson Cup battle while Indiana is idle. The next Ice game is a rematch against the Fighting Saints in Indianapolis Tuesday.