Black Hawks Preview (Jan 17-18), Pecararo Honored

The Waterloo Black Hawks prepare for a two-game road trip this weekend.  On Friday (Jan. 17, 2014), they are in Youngstown, Ohio.  On Saturday (Jan/ 18, 2014), they travel to An Arbor, Michigan.  They will do so with this week's USHL co-forward of the week, Liam Pecararo.

Pecararo Honored as USHL's Co-Forward of the Week:
As the Waterloo Black Hawks continue to enjoy team success, the United States Hockey League continues to recognize the club’s top performers, this week naming Liam Pecararo the co-winner of its CCM Forward of the Week Award.

Friday in Sioux Falls, Pecararo helped extend Waterloo’s winning streak to eight consecutive games, victimizing the Stampede for his first USHL hat trick. Saturday, the Hawks won their ninth-in-a-row, claiming a 3-1 victory versus the Des Moines Buccaneers. Pecararo had a hand in the third Waterloo tally, redirecting a shot by Mark Friedman. The Canton, Massachusetts native now has a personal streak of points recorded during four straight games; in that time, he has four goals and three assists.

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Eastern Meditation:
After playing their last 18 games west of the Mississippi River, the Black Hawks head to the USHL’s far east this weekend to visit the Youngstown Phantoms and the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18’s. The contests on Friday and Saturday respectively will wrap up the season series versus both opponents. Waterloo topped Youngstown at Young Arena, 6-3, on October 5th. Team USA’s Under-18’s are the last foe to outdo the Hawks in regulation, with a high-scoring 8-6 decision in Waterloo on November 22nd. In a game against Team USA’s Under 17 squad just before Christmas, the Black Hawks responded with a 6-4 win.

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That’s a Plus:
Of the 21 non-goaltenders on the Black Hawks’ active roster, 17 have a positive plus/minus rating. A “plus” is awarded to all skaters on the ice for the team scoring an even-strength or shorthanded goal, while their counterparts from the opposing team receive a “minus” in those circumstances. Waterloo finished last season with 13 “plus” players. In addition, eight Hawks this year have positive ratings of +10 or above. The Sioux City Musketeers have an equal number in double-digits, and only the Omaha Lancers have more (nine players).

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Horton’s Timely Return:
Jake Horton missed 11 games with a lower body injury, but returned to the lineup last weekend and scored the game-winning goal Saturday during a 3-1 decision against the Des Moines Buccaneers. It was the Lake Elmo, Minnesota, native’s fourth goal and third game-winner of the season. Through 15 appearances, Horton’s 11 points are one shy of his total in 28 contests last year. Injuries have prevented the Harvard recruit from posting bigger stats. Although Horton is in his second full season with the Black Hawks and skated as an affiliate prior to that, Saturday’s matchup in Ann Arbor will likely be just his 50th appearance in the league.

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Seventh Man:
Although the Hawks are headed toward four consecutive road games, they can certainly look forward to coming home at the end of the month. Including last Saturday’s 3-1 decision in front of 3,272 home fans, Waterloo has won five consecutive games when 3,000 or more people have made their way to Young Arena. Since March, 2012, the Hawks are 14-1-0 in regular season play when a home crowd of at least that size is behind them. Last Saturday’s attendance was the largest of the 2013/14 season.

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Weekly Recap:
Liam Pecararo recorded a three goal hat trick and the Black Hawks pulled away late for an 8-3 road victory against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Back home Saturday, Waterloo scored on three of 52 shots and outdistanced the Des Moines Buccaneers 3-1. Cal Petersen was in net to earn the victory both nights.

Visit the Waterloo Black Hawks web site to learn more.