Last Second Heroics Help Both the Black Hawks and the Saints

On Saturday, February 8, 2014, the Waterloo Black Hawks traveled to the Mystique Ice Center in Dubuque to battle the Fighting Saints. It was a classic Waterloo-Dubuque USHL battle that saw two buzzer-beaters before an eventual winner was determined.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints (26-11-1) got the scoring started early. Phil Boje slipped the puck past Waterloo's goaltender Cal Petersen just 34-seconds into the contest. Dubuque would hold the 1-0 lead until the second period.

The Waterloo Black Hawks (32-5-2) finally got on the board when Liam Pecararo scored an unassisted goal against Dubuque's netminder Kevin Reich. Dubuque's Shane Eiserman would answer back with a goal. Dubuque qould the lead until late in the third period.

In the closing minutes, things looked desperate for Waterloo. Still down one goal, the Black Hawks were forced to go on the penalty kill with less than a minute left in regulation. However the Black Hawks scored during that special teams situation, while shorthanded, to force the overtime. Blake Winiecki fired the rebound of Brandon Montour’s shot into the net with five-seconds remaining in the third period, while the Hawks’ net was empty and with an extra attacker on the ice.

With time running out in overtime, Dubuque's Karson Kuhlman would slip in on Petersen's blind side and shoved the puck past for the eventual win.

Although the Waterloo’s 16-game winning streak came to an end with Saturday’s decision, Winiecki’s goal extended the club’s string of games without a regulation loss – and therefore at least one standings point earned – to 23.

Next Up: The Black Hawks return to home ice Sunday afternoon to host the Sioux Falls Stampede. The first 1,000 fans in attendance for the 3:05 afternoon matchup will receive a drawstring backpack, courtesy of Covenant Cardiology. It’s also an i Wireless College Night, with $8 tickets for all college students with ID. Tickets are available from the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or online from waterlooblackhawks.com.