WATERLOO - The 3,050 fans that attended the Waterloo Black Hawks' tilt with the Chicago Steel Saturday night at Young Arena sure got their money's worth.

In a penalty-filled 7-4 win over the Chicago Steel, the Black Hawks wrapped up a United States Hockey League playoff spot, but head coach P.K. O'Handley wasn't around to see it.

The contest had everything, with 60 minutes issued in penalties. The Black Hawks took the brunt of the calls, with 42 minutes spent in their own box.

That statistic inspired O'Handley to gather the officials' attention with a water bottle before a lengthy discussion resulted in a game misconduct for O'Handley.

"As bad as things were out there it is unfortunate that it had to happen," O'Handley said. "I am not proud of it and it should not have taken place.

"I thought our guys played very well under some tough circumstances. It has been a very difficult 24 hours for this team."

A longtime member of the Black Hawks' family passed away unexpectedly Friday night, and a moment of silenced was observed for Karen Wente before the drop of the puck.

Wente was a long time supporter of the Hawks and was a host parent and team housing coordinator. She and her husband, Bill, have been housing current player Craig Smith the past three seasons.

Fittingly, it was Smith who started the fireworks for the home team after a 1-0 first period.

Smith registered a hat trick in an 8-minute span of the second period, including a rocket one-timer off a feed from Patrick Wey, giving the Hawks a 5-0 advantage.

"She was definitely out there with me tonight," Smith said. "For some reason I had an unlimited amount of energy tonight. It was fitting to get a hat trick, and I was thinking of her with each score."

Tyler Barnes sandwiched a goal between Smith's last two goals.

"I would also like to extend our hearts and thoughts to the Wente family," O'Handley said. "She was a good friend and I believe she was with us tonight."

The Black Hawks host Indiana Wednesday night.

Contact Rod Payne at sportsdoor@wcfcourier.com

SCORE BY PERIODS

Chicago 0 3 1 - 4

Waterloo 1 5 1 - 7

FIRST PERIOD - 1. Waterloo, Eriah Hayes (Ben Miller, Brock Montpetit) 17:13 (pp). Penalties - Derek Arnold, Wat. (hooking) 2:57; Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Wat. (hooking) 6:15; John Moore, Chi. (tripping) 8:33; Lee Moffie, Wat. (hooking) 11:00; Dan Sova, Wat. (cross-checking) 13:11; Hudson Stremmel, Chi. (tripping) 13:38; Moffie, Wat. (tripping) 14:38; Josh Balch, Chi. (hooking) 16:31; Samuels-Thomas, Wat. (interference) 17:24.

SECOND PERIOD - 2. Waterloo, Craig Dmith (Hayes); 3. Waterloo, Smith (Zach Palmquist), 1:19; 4. Waterloo, Tyler Barnes (unassisted) 2:06; 5. Waterloo, Smith (Patrick Wey) 8:35; 6. Chicago, Andrew Miller (Brett Kostolansky, Balch) 12:17 (pp); 7. Waterloo, J.T. Brown (Smith, Samuels-Thomas) 13:45; 8. Chicago, Mark Anthoine (Alex Krushelnyski, Kevin Lind) 16;15; 9. Chicago, Greg Wolfe (Krushelnyski, Lind) 19:30 (pp). Penalties - Brown, Wat. (double roughing) 8:35; Dean Chelios, Chi. (double roughing) 8:35; Keegan Meuer, Wat. (slashing) 10:36; Moffie, Wat. (hooking) 17:58; Sova, Chi. (delay of game), 17:58; Chelios, Chi. (delay of game) 17:58.

THIRD PERIOD - 10. Mark Goggin (Chelios, Jamie Oleksiak) 1:53; 11. Waterloo, barnes (Arnold) 18:05 (ss). Penalties - Mike Montrose, Wat. (high sticking) 3:11; Brown, Wat. (tripping) 8:20; PK OHandley, Wat. (unsportsmanlike conduct, abuse of officials game misconduct) 9:11; Max Nicastro, Chi. (slashing) 9:38; Balch, Chi. (holding) 14:10; Eddie Olczyk, Wat. (holding) 17:37; Sova, Wat. (roughing) 18:57; Moore, Chi. (elbowing) 18:57.

SHOT ON GOAL

Chicago 6 15 15 - 36

Waterloo 3 13 5 - 21

Goalies - Chicago, Hudson Stremmel (22:06 min) 6 shots, 2 saves; Nick Pisellini (37:54) 15, 12). Waterloo, Parker Milner 36, 32).

Officials - Mayer, referee; Panich, Pletsch. A - 3,050.