Casey Wellman’s hat trick propelled the host RoughRiders to a 6-2 win over the Waterloo Black Hawks Saturday night.

The Riders emerged from a wild first period with a 3-2 lead, thanks in large part to a pair of Wellman goals. Wellman’s drive from the top of the left wing circle kicked off the fireworks at 4:49 of the first.

The Black Hawks responded less than two minutes later while on the power play. Mike Fink backhanded a John Lee feed home from the slot to even the score at one apiece.

At 9:02 the Riders moved back in front for good when David Boehm jammed the puck in from the doorstep.

The Riders extended the lead to 3-1 at 17:57 when Wellman finished off a nifty give-and-go with Tyler Thompson.

With just 36 seconds left in the first, the Hawks clawed right back within one with another power play goal as Chad Billins buried a rebound.

Undaunted, the Riders would strike for their fourth of the night at 2:12 of the second period. Cedar Rapids was on the power play when Scott Mathis triggered a run of three unanswered goals and chased Waterloo started goaltender Matt DiGirolamo from the game with a blast from the blue line.

Wellman complete his hat trick at 13:49 of the second when his backhander was deflected past Hawks relief netminder Joe Howe.

The Riders capped off the win with another long range power blast from a defenseman- this time it was Matt Donovan who rifled the puck in from the left point to make 6-2 at 11:07 of the third period.