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Black Hawks not taking late-season success for granted
By JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Writer
WATERLOO — Nobody has played better than the Waterloo Black Hawks over the last third of the United States Hockey League regular season, or through the first two rounds of the Clark Cup playoffs.
Waterloo has won 22 of its last 24 games, including 13 in a row and six in the playoffs.
During that span, the Black Hawks have outscored their opponents 92-37, including 24-9 in the playoffs.
With that said, Waterloo understands all streaks eventually come to an end, and it could happen sometime during the best-of-five Clark Cup Tier I national championship finals against Omaha that start Sunday in Council Bluffs.
That doesn’t worry the Black Hawks.
“There are five games laid out for a reason,” captain Brett Olson said. “If things go our way, great. If they don’t, that is one bump in the road and you have to approach it that way.”
It worries Waterloo head coach P.K. O’Handley.
“Absolutely,” O’Handley said. “When is it going to end? I worry about it. We worry about it as a staff. The kids are funny about it because they don’t worry about it. They just keep going.
“I also think the kids are on such a high at this point should we lose a game or two this group understands they can get it back. Whether it (a loss) happens or not, I think our kids understand how they need to react.”
Olson said it’s all about short memories.
“You can’t dwell on things,” Olson said. “You just have to prepare yourself for the next game and say, ‘What are the things that didn’t work in that game and why?’
“You re-evaluate. Maybe it was unlucky bounces or maybe your opponent capitalized on its opportunities better than you did. In the end, you just have to bounce back.”
Omaha won the USHL’s Anderson Cup for the best regular-season record, compiling a 43-12-5 mark.
O’Handley calls the Lancers the best team ever assembled in the USHL. Omaha scored the most goals during the regular season (224) and allowed the fewest (139).
“They have everything .. size, speed, goaltending, play physical ... the list goes on,” forward Billy Maday said. “We split the season series with them. If we play our best hockey and play our game, we should be all right.”
The Lancers are led by forwards Barry Almeida and Chris Connolly, who combined for 115 regular-season points.
Additionally, Omaha is veteran-laden. Three Lancers have played at least three seasons in the USHL — Chris Hepp (four), Matt Thurber (three) and former Black Hawk Joe Sova (three).
“Having that many veterans ... it is immeasurable to what they bring to the table for them. Omaha is a complete team and know what they are doing. It is going to be a tall order,” O’Handley said.
Game One will come six days after Waterloo’s last game, which is probably the last thing a team as hot as the Black Hawks wanted. It also gives the Lancers, coming off an intense five-game series with arch-rival Lincoln, two additional days of rest.
“It is not optimal, but it is what it is,” O’Handley said. “We had that much time off between the Cedar Rapids and the Chicago series. We’re not overly concerned.”
Waterloo assistant coaches Derrick Johnson and Shane Fukushima scouted games four and five of the Omaha-Lincoln semifinal series, giving the Black Hawks a jump start on a game plan for the Lancers.
“We will put the plan in place starting today,” O’Handley said. “I think, obviously, we have a formidable foe in the Anderson Cup champions. I guess you would have to classify us as the underdog. “
Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com
Clark Cup matchups
Scouting the Omaha Lancers
Head coach: Mike Hastings (14th season)
All-time record: 529-210-56
All-time playoff record: 71-52
2007-08 regular-season: 43-12-5, 91 points
2007-08 playoffs: 5-2
Postseason to date: Omaha beat Sioux City, 3-1, in the first round of the United States Hockey League’s playoffs, before taking out arch-rival Lincoln in the second round in five games.
Postseason history: The Lancers have won the Clark Cup six times in franchise history — 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001.
Alumni in the NHL: Keith Ballard (Phoenix), Matt Carle (San Jose), Joe Corvo (Carolina), Dan Ellis (Nashville), Martin Hanzel (Phoenix), Ryan Malone (Pittsburgh), Drew Miller (Anaheim), Joe Motzko (Washington), Jed Ortmeyer (Nashville), Paul Stastny (Colorado), Yan Statsny (St. Louis), Duvie Westcott (Columbus).
Playoff notes: Omaha was the best team in the USHL in the regular season, winning the Anderson Cup going away. The Lancers finished 31 games above .500 and scored a league-high 224 goals while allowing a league-low 139. Omaha was 24-4-2 at home during the regular season.
College commitments: Barry Almeida (Boston College), Andrew Conbowy (Michigan State), Chris Connolly (Boston), Joe Diamond (Maine), Dakota Eveland (Colorado College), Jake Hauswirth (Michigan Tech), Chris Hepp (St. Cloud State), Aaron Lewadniuk (Bemidji State), Travis Novak (St. Cloud State), Will O’Neill (Maine), Drew Palmisano (Michigan State), Kier Ross (Cornell), Nico Sacchetti (Minnesota), Ryan Scott (Williams College), Joe Sova (Alaska-Fairbanks), Matt Thurber (Wisconsin), Matt White (New Hampshire).
P.K. O’Handley on the Lancers:
“(They’re) one of the best junior hockey teams ever assembled in this league. They can play any game they want. They can go up and down the rink. They can play with skill. They can play the body and make you pay. And they have a guy in net who is just outstanding.”
Scouting the Waterloo Black Hawks
Head coach: P.K. O’Handley (sixth season)
All-time record: 337-320-51
All-time playoff record: 41-31
2007-08 record: 38-17-5, 81 points
2008 playoffs: 6-0.
Postseason to date: Waterloo strolled into the Clark Cup finals with 3-0 sweeps of Cedar Rapids and Chicago to emerge from the East Division.
Postseason history: The Black Hawks are playing in their third Cup final in five years. Waterloo won its only Cup in 2004.
Alumni in the NHL: Jason Blake (Toronto), Mark Eaton (Pittsburgh), Joe Pavelski (San Jose).
Playoff notes: Waterloo has won 13 games dating back to the regular season and has won 22 of its last 24 games ... The Black Hawks will be playing in their 40th postseason game since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, more than other USHL club during that time frame. Six of Waterloo’s 12 goals in its opening playoff win over Cedar Rapids came on the power play, while it was just 3-of-12 against Chicago. The Black Hawks have a power-play goal in every postseason game, while five of their six game-winning goals have came even strength.
College commitments: Brett Beebe (Western Michigan), Chad Billins (Ferris State), Matt DiGirolamo (New Hampshire), Mike Fink (North Dakota), Jan-Mikael Juutilainen (Nebraska-Omaha), Blake Kessel (New Hampshire), John Lee (Denver), Billy Maday (Notre Dame), Mike Marcou (UMass-Amherst), Drew MacKenzie (Vermont), Brock Montpetit (Wisconsin), Brett Olson (Michigan Tech), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Bowling Green), Craig Smith (Wisconsin), Paul Weisgarber (Air Force).
P.K. O’Handley on his Black Hawks:
“For us to win, the Craig Smiths, Jordan Samuels-Thomases, the Brock Montpetits, the Keegan Meuers, the Scott Pavelskis, Brett Beebes and Mike Finks ... those guys have to take their games to another level. You can compare it to baseball. When you look at the baseball playoffs, if the middle part of the lineup doesn’t deliver, you don’t win.”
Waterloo has won 22 of its last 24 games, including 13 in a row and six in the playoffs.
During that span, the Black Hawks have outscored their opponents 92-37, including 24-9 in the playoffs.
With that said, Waterloo understands all streaks eventually come to an end, and it could happen sometime during the best-of-five Clark Cup Tier I national championship finals against Omaha that start Sunday in Council Bluffs.
That doesn’t worry the Black Hawks.
“There are five games laid out for a reason,” captain Brett Olson said. “If things go our way, great. If they don’t, that is one bump in the road and you have to approach it that way.”
It worries Waterloo head coach P.K. O’Handley.
“Absolutely,” O’Handley said. “When is it going to end? I worry about it. We worry about it as a staff. The kids are funny about it because they don’t worry about it. They just keep going.
“I also think the kids are on such a high at this point should we lose a game or two this group understands they can get it back. Whether it (a loss) happens or not, I think our kids understand how they need to react.”
Olson said it’s all about short memories.
“You can’t dwell on things,” Olson said. “You just have to prepare yourself for the next game and say, ‘What are the things that didn’t work in that game and why?’
“You re-evaluate. Maybe it was unlucky bounces or maybe your opponent capitalized on its opportunities better than you did. In the end, you just have to bounce back.”
Omaha won the USHL’s Anderson Cup for the best regular-season record, compiling a 43-12-5 mark.
O’Handley calls the Lancers the best team ever assembled in the USHL. Omaha scored the most goals during the regular season (224) and allowed the fewest (139).
“They have everything .. size, speed, goaltending, play physical ... the list goes on,” forward Billy Maday said. “We split the season series with them. If we play our best hockey and play our game, we should be all right.”
The Lancers are led by forwards Barry Almeida and Chris Connolly, who combined for 115 regular-season points.
Additionally, Omaha is veteran-laden. Three Lancers have played at least three seasons in the USHL — Chris Hepp (four), Matt Thurber (three) and former Black Hawk Joe Sova (three).
“Having that many veterans ... it is immeasurable to what they bring to the table for them. Omaha is a complete team and know what they are doing. It is going to be a tall order,” O’Handley said.
Game One will come six days after Waterloo’s last game, which is probably the last thing a team as hot as the Black Hawks wanted. It also gives the Lancers, coming off an intense five-game series with arch-rival Lincoln, two additional days of rest.
“It is not optimal, but it is what it is,” O’Handley said. “We had that much time off between the Cedar Rapids and the Chicago series. We’re not overly concerned.”
Waterloo assistant coaches Derrick Johnson and Shane Fukushima scouted games four and five of the Omaha-Lincoln semifinal series, giving the Black Hawks a jump start on a game plan for the Lancers.
“We will put the plan in place starting today,” O’Handley said. “I think, obviously, we have a formidable foe in the Anderson Cup champions. I guess you would have to classify us as the underdog. “
Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com
Clark Cup matchups
Scouting the Omaha Lancers
Head coach: Mike Hastings (14th season)
All-time record: 529-210-56
All-time playoff record: 71-52
2007-08 regular-season: 43-12-5, 91 points
2007-08 playoffs: 5-2
Postseason to date: Omaha beat Sioux City, 3-1, in the first round of the United States Hockey League’s playoffs, before taking out arch-rival Lincoln in the second round in five games.
Postseason history: The Lancers have won the Clark Cup six times in franchise history — 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001.
Alumni in the NHL: Keith Ballard (Phoenix), Matt Carle (San Jose), Joe Corvo (Carolina), Dan Ellis (Nashville), Martin Hanzel (Phoenix), Ryan Malone (Pittsburgh), Drew Miller (Anaheim), Joe Motzko (Washington), Jed Ortmeyer (Nashville), Paul Stastny (Colorado), Yan Statsny (St. Louis), Duvie Westcott (Columbus).
Playoff notes: Omaha was the best team in the USHL in the regular season, winning the Anderson Cup going away. The Lancers finished 31 games above .500 and scored a league-high 224 goals while allowing a league-low 139. Omaha was 24-4-2 at home during the regular season.
College commitments: Barry Almeida (Boston College), Andrew Conbowy (Michigan State), Chris Connolly (Boston), Joe Diamond (Maine), Dakota Eveland (Colorado College), Jake Hauswirth (Michigan Tech), Chris Hepp (St. Cloud State), Aaron Lewadniuk (Bemidji State), Travis Novak (St. Cloud State), Will O’Neill (Maine), Drew Palmisano (Michigan State), Kier Ross (Cornell), Nico Sacchetti (Minnesota), Ryan Scott (Williams College), Joe Sova (Alaska-Fairbanks), Matt Thurber (Wisconsin), Matt White (New Hampshire).
P.K. O’Handley on the Lancers:
“(They’re) one of the best junior hockey teams ever assembled in this league. They can play any game they want. They can go up and down the rink. They can play with skill. They can play the body and make you pay. And they have a guy in net who is just outstanding.”
Scouting the Waterloo Black Hawks
Head coach: P.K. O’Handley (sixth season)
All-time record: 337-320-51
All-time playoff record: 41-31
2007-08 record: 38-17-5, 81 points
2008 playoffs: 6-0.
Postseason to date: Waterloo strolled into the Clark Cup finals with 3-0 sweeps of Cedar Rapids and Chicago to emerge from the East Division.
Postseason history: The Black Hawks are playing in their third Cup final in five years. Waterloo won its only Cup in 2004.
Alumni in the NHL: Jason Blake (Toronto), Mark Eaton (Pittsburgh), Joe Pavelski (San Jose).
Playoff notes: Waterloo has won 13 games dating back to the regular season and has won 22 of its last 24 games ... The Black Hawks will be playing in their 40th postseason game since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, more than other USHL club during that time frame. Six of Waterloo’s 12 goals in its opening playoff win over Cedar Rapids came on the power play, while it was just 3-of-12 against Chicago. The Black Hawks have a power-play goal in every postseason game, while five of their six game-winning goals have came even strength.
College commitments: Brett Beebe (Western Michigan), Chad Billins (Ferris State), Matt DiGirolamo (New Hampshire), Mike Fink (North Dakota), Jan-Mikael Juutilainen (Nebraska-Omaha), Blake Kessel (New Hampshire), John Lee (Denver), Billy Maday (Notre Dame), Mike Marcou (UMass-Amherst), Drew MacKenzie (Vermont), Brock Montpetit (Wisconsin), Brett Olson (Michigan Tech), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Bowling Green), Craig Smith (Wisconsin), Paul Weisgarber (Air Force).
P.K. O’Handley on his Black Hawks:
“For us to win, the Craig Smiths, Jordan Samuels-Thomases, the Brock Montpetits, the Keegan Meuers, the Scott Pavelskis, Brett Beebes and Mike Finks ... those guys have to take their games to another level. You can compare it to baseball. When you look at the baseball playoffs, if the middle part of the lineup doesn’t deliver, you don’t win.”
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