Waterloo is riding high this season, as they extended their lead in the USHL's Western Conference. The Black Hawks are currently 26-8-1 with 53 points and a HUGE 10 point lead over 2nd place Tri-City.

SATURDAY NIGHT VS. TEAM USA
For the second consecutive night, the Waterloo scored six goals to earn a home ice win at Young Arena; Saturday they defeated USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program 6-1.

Townsquare Media - Shawn McKenna
Townsquare Media - Shawn McKenna
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Griffin Ness (2), Ryan Drkulec (2), Quinn Rudrud, Keighan Gerriem scored for the home team. Goaltender Logan Stein was less than two minutes from securing a shutout when the NTDP’s Jeremy Wilmer scored with just 1:22 remaining in the game.  Stein made 18 saves for the win. Fan also had fun watching the popular "Dainty Doggy Dash" held during the first intermission.

FRIDAY NIGHT VS. MUSKEGON

Townsquare Media - Shawn McKenna
Townsquare Media - Shawn McKenna
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Tommy Hawk had fun celebrating his birthday with all of this mascot friends, which was also highlighted by Griffin Ness recording his second career hat trick and had the highest-scoring night of any Black Hawk in almost exactly two years, during a 6-5 overtime victory against the Muskegon Lumberjacks at Young Arena Friday.

The Waterloo captain was involved in all the offense, including his third goal of the night which forced overtime with 1:03 remaining in regulation. After falling behind seconds earlier, the Hawks brought an extra attacker to the ice and controlled the puck in the offensive zone. Brehdan Engum’s shot from the right point was tipped in by Ness to give the home team a chance at redemption after a two-goal third period lead had slipped away. For Ness, the hat trick matched a three-goal effort last season against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on November 3, 2018.

Townsquare Media - Heather Carroll
Townsquare Media - Heather Carroll
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Just 13 seconds into overtime, he set up the winner. Playing three-on-three, Ness received Engum’s pass at the Muskegon blue line, strode toward the goal, and fed the puck to Wyatt Schingoethe at the opposite post. Jamming away with Jonathan Williams unable to cover the disc, Schingoethe eventually forced in the winning score. (see photo)

With a third assist to go with three goals during the game, Ness became the first Black Hawk to record six points on one night, since Ben Finkelstein on January 27, 2018 during a 7-3 win against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Waterloo outshot Muskegon in every period, and by a final count of 51-25. It was a wild game, and things got a little "testy" on the ice. (see photo)

Townsquare Media - Shawn McKenna
Townsquare Media - Shawn McKenna
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BACK ON THE ROAD
The Black Hawks are on the road next weekend for a pair of games against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Waterloo returns home on February 7th & 8th to do battle with the Fargo Force. It'll be the annual "John Deere Weekend", with the team wearing special jerseys each night.

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