Storm Power Play Sink Black Hawks

Tri-City's Chris Wilkie recorded a hat trick, including two of the Storm’s three power play goals Friday, January 9, 2015, dropping the Waterloo Black Hawks 5-3 at the Viaero Event Center.

Phil Beaulieu snagged a clearing attempt and gave the Black Hawks the opening score on a long shot from the left point just 1:22 into the game. However, the USHL-leading Storm power play evened the contest at 4:51; Wilkie snapped a puck through traffic to the wide-side post. Then a miscue during a Waterloo power play allowed Tri-City to take the lead at 11:57. After a turnover in the center circle, there was nothing between Dan Labosky and Waterloo netminder Trevor Gorsuch, and the Storm forward slipped a backhander through Gorsuch’s pads.

The sides exchanged goals in the second. Wilkie scored his second of the night, sliding across the slot to lift the puck to the top corner at 7:30.  The Black Hawks broke through on the power play at 16:53 when Hayden Shaw’s long chance from the left point eluded Alec Dillon, fluttering into the net at his glove side.

The Black Hawks brought the game back even when a faceoff win setup a Tom Novak power play goal at 4:04. However, Matthew Freytag scored what proved to be the winner during the next Storm power play at 6:49. Wilkie completed the hat trick with one last power play marker, snapping a shot into the net when the puck came to him alone in the slot with 43.1 seconds remaining in the contest.

NEXT UP: On Saturday, the Hawks and Storm meet again, lining up for the opening faceoff at 7:05 p.m.

For Friday's box score, please click here.