A heated rivalry gets even hotter Saturday night when the Waterloo Black Hawks and Cedar Rapids Roughriders meet in the second-round of the United States Hockey League Clark Cup playoffs. It’s the first post-season meeting between the two teams and Black Hawks coach P.K. O’Handley says there’s plenty at stake.
O’Handley expects an intense game as he says they have to win to continue their season. He says they went into the season with the goals of an eastern division championship, and Anderson Cup championship, and a Clark Cup championship. They have two of three and need to win to get the third.
A loss ends the season for the Black Hawks, but a victory guarantees top-seeded Waterloo will host next weekend’s USHL final four championship series. O’Handley says the Black Hawks are confident, despite the pressure. He says Young arena has been a good spot for the team and they’ve been able to handle the emotion of the play. O’Handley says it all comes down to execution.
O’Handley expects Cedar Rapids will be motivated by revenge. Last month, Waterloo claimed the regular-season championship by beating the Roughriders on their ice. O’Handley says winning the cup there was a good thing for his team, and he’s sure Cedar Rapids would like a pay back. The pucks drops at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Young Arena. Cedar Rapids hosts Indiana tonight and with a victory would lockup a spot in the final four.