Waterloo, IA – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (2-1-0-0, 4 pts) visit the Waterloo Black Hawks (3-0-1-0, 7 pts) on Friday to open a weekend of Cowbell-Cup games.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Rivalry Renewed
The Fighting Saints take on the Black Hawks on Friday, making the first of three trips to Young Arena this season. Overall, the Saints will take on the Hawks five times this season.
Over the last three seasons, the Saints have won 17 of 21 games against the Black Hawks. Last season, Dubuque took all five meetings with its rival from Waterloo.
2. Lock's Liftoff
Fresh off a 20-goal season, Gavin Lock returned to the lineup last Saturday and scored his first goal of the season.
Last Saturday, Lock played in his 87th USHL game for Dubuque. The Plymouth, Michigan native is the second most-experienced player on the Saints, trailing only captain Melvin Ekman (109).
3. Rookie Rocks
Rookie forward David Blasiak has goals in back-to-back games for the Saints to begin his USHL career. Blasiak has scored both of his goals in the third period of games, tallying against Tri-City at the Fall Classic and Cedar Rapids last Saturday on the road.
Blasiak was a 2025 Phase I draft pick by Dubuque and spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Reapers. Last season, Blasiak scored 11 goals and had 43 points for the Reapers U16 quad.
4. Super Starts
Last season, the Fighting Saints scored the first goal in 41 of their 62 games. Dubuque won 32 of those 41 contests over the 2025-26 season.
Through three games, the Saints have allowed the first goal twice. The Saints have split those two games, beating Lincoln at the Fall Classic and falling last Saturday in Cedar Rapids.
5. Hawk Chalk
Waterloo has points in all four games this season after sweeping Fargo last week. The Hawks have been led by a league-best 35.7% power play so far this season, scoring five power-play goals in four games.
Despite allowing 79 shots on goal in two games at Fargo last week, Charlie Menard and Sebastian Charvat combined to make 75 saves and help the Hawks to a pair of 3-2 wins.
Friday's game begins at 6:35 p.m. CT at Young Arena. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
