Waterloo becomes the third Western Conference team to punch their ticket to the post-season. The Waterloo Black Hawks [https://waterlooblackhawks.com/]became the third USHL Western Conference team to punch their ticket to the 2025 Clark Cup Playoffs, cruising past the Chicago Steel [https://chicagosteelhockeyteam.com/index.aspx]5-1 at Fox Valley Ice Arena Friday night. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Lyn Photography / Waterloo Black Hawks [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1b3d9d61-06d0-43dd-a7ee-5d83c28bf361.webp] Photo courtesy of Stephanie Lyn Photography / Waterloo Black Hawks Waterloo’s win, combined with a Des Moines Buccaneers loss to the Dubuque Fighting Saints, secured the Hawks’ place in the postseason with over a month to go during the regular season and 12 games remaining on Waterloo’s schedule. Chicago scored the only first period goal at 14:33. Tobias Ohman tracked down the puck below the icing line, centering for Jackson Crowder on the inside edge of the left circle. Crowder beat Calvin Vachon low to the glove side. The Black Hawks had a chance to convert an early second period five-on-three power play, but could not capitalize. They did even up the game shortly after Chicago came back to full strength. Brady Peddle was eying up a one-timer, but before he could pull the trigger, his stick was tangled by a defender. The errant puck went right to Chase Jette in the slot, and he put in the equalizer. With 3:31 to go before intermission, Reid Morich gave Waterloo the lead. Kaeden Hawkins forced a takeaway, stepping below the goal line to feed Morich; the Hawk captain’s first shot was stopped but bounced back to him. Morich swatted it out of midair and into the net. The Hawks added to the margin with a shorthanded goal midway through the third. Morich’s steal near the Chicago blue line set up a two-on-one with Sam Huck. A pass across the slot was blocked by Cameron Briere’s diving effort, but the Steel forward and the puck went sliding into goalie Louka Cloutier, resulting in the shorty, credited to Morich. The play came under review, and at 15:25, the goal was upheld. Michael Phelan’s long try from the right point was tipped in successfully by Bradley Walker. Nicholas Kosiba added an empty-netter just over a minute later, fending off a check as he took the puck all the way to the goal line. Waterloo outshot the Steel in every period and by a final count of 31-18. Vachon made 17 saves for the win. The Black Hawks are home Saturday to host the Dubuque Fighting Saints for their only matchup at Young Arena during an eight-game span. The game features Irish-themed Cedar Valley Origins jerseys, presented by Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity. The jerseys will be auctioned after the game, with proceeds used to advance Habitat’s mission of providing decent, affordable housing in a four-county area of northeast Iowa. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 Pm CT.
