Craig Smith’s goal with 3:09 left in the third period gave the host Waterloo Black Hawks a 3-1 lead and would prove to be the game winner as the Black Hawks survived a late RoughRider comeback bid to claim a 3-2 win.

Smith fired a loose puck home from the doorstep, a goal that proved all the more crucial after Scott Wietecha buried the puck from the slot to bring the Riders back within one with just 1:38 remaining in the third. Wietecha scored while the Riders were enjoying a 6-on-4 man power advantage after pulling goaltender Richard Bachman during a power play.

The Hawks entered the third period on top 2-1. After a scoreless first period, Matt Arhontas shoveled a rebound over Bachman (32 saves) to open the scoring at 1:24 of the second.

The Riders evened the score at one at 5:07 of the second when Aaron Bogosian beat Waterloo goaltender Matt DiGirolamo (17 saves) from close range.

The deadlock lasted only until Anthony Schooley put the Black Hawks in front for good at 11:19 of the second by firing a Smith centering pass past Bachman.