Black Hawks Edge Lincoln, Tie for West Lead
Waterloo's 2-1 win over Lincoln moved the team into a first-place tie in the USHL Western Conference.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hockey
The Waterloo Black Hawks defeated the Lincoln Stars 2-1 on Saturday in Lincoln, improving to 11-2-2 overall. The win lifted Waterloo into a tie with Fargo for first place in the USHL Western Conference.
Why it matters
Waterloo's two weekend wins give the Black Hawks a share of the conference lead with 24 points, though Fargo has played one more game. Strong goaltending from Charlie Menard, who was acquired from Lincoln before the season, has been central to the team's start.
Charlie Menard made 28 saves and is 5-1-2 in the net for Waterloo, while the team's 11-2-2 record leaves it with 24 points, level with Fargo for the Western Conference lead despite Fargo having played one more game.
The players
Waterloo Black Hawks
The Waterloo Black Hawks are a junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League that plays in Waterloo, Iowa.
Lincoln Stars
The Lincoln Stars are a junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League based in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Charlie Menard
Charlie Menard is a goaltender who was traded to the Waterloo Black Hawks from the Lincoln Stars before the start of the season.
The details
Cody Sokol and Caleb Deanovich each scored for Waterloo, with James Russell assisting on both goals. Miles Jinman and Camden Langfeld also recorded assists in the win over Lincoln.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Waterloo defeats Lincoln 2-1 in Lincoln.
Friday and Saturday following the article: Waterloo plays at Youngstown.
Season Trajectory
Waterloo's climb into a tie for first in the USHL Western Conference puts it in the early contention picture for the division. Its position alongside Fargo, which has played one more game, shows how tightly the West's top teams are bunched this early in the season.
Waterloo's standing with 24 points, level with Fargo, shapes how the Western Conference race looks in the coming weeks. Fans tracking the standings will see the Black Hawks' next two road games at Youngstown as a direct test of whether the tie for first holds.
The takeaway
Waterloo's early-season success depends heavily on goaltending and a balanced scoring group, and the next road games in Youngstown will show whether that formula holds away from home.
What happens next
Waterloo plays at Youngstown on the Friday and Saturday following this game.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Hockey coverage across the Waterloo area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Courier.
