The host Waterloo Black Hawks defeated the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 3-2 in overtime Saturday night to set the stage for a best-of-five first round United States Hockey League Clark Cup playoff matchup between the arch rivals starting next Friday night in Waterloo. The Riders earned one point for the sudden death loss, a point that enabled Cedar Rapids to wrap up a third place finish in the USHL’s East Division and a postseason date with the second place Black Hawks.

After next Friday’s series opener, the Riders and Hawks will meet in game two one night later in Waterloo. The series will shift to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena for game three on Wednesday April 16 and, if necessary, game four on Friday, April 18. If a fifth and deciding game is required, it will be played in Waterloo on Saturday, April 19. All games in the series will face off at 7:05PM.

This marks the first time the Riders and arch rival Black Hawks will meet in a postseason series. The Hawks did win a single round robin playoff game against the RoughRiders last spring. That 6-0 loss eliminated the Riders from the postseason.

Tickets for the RoughRiders’ first round home playoff game(s) go on sale Monday at noon. Tickets will be available for purchase in person at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office, over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or on line at www.roughridershockey.com. The ticket office is open from noon to 5:00PM on weekdays and from noon through the end of the second period on game day. Ticket prices range from $8 to $18.

Drew McKenzie scored at 3:13 of overtime to give the Black Hawks the win Saturday night after the Riders had battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force sudden death. Casey Wellman’s power play goal got Cedar Rapids on the scoreboard for the first time with 56 seconds left in the second period. Ben Lynch evened the score at two at 5:27 of the third period. The Hawks had gotten the jump on the Riders thanks to goals from Brett Olson (on a two man advantage) at 15:08 of the first period and Brock Montpetit at 14:09 of the second.

Clark Cup Playoffs, First Round

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Waterloo Black Hawks

Game One: Cedar Rapids @ Waterloo, Friday, April 11, 7:05PM

Game Two: Cedar Rapids @ Waterloo, Saturday, April 12, 7:05PM

Game Three: Waterloo @ Cedar Rapids, Wednesday, April 16, 7:05PM

Game Four: Waterloo @ Cedar Rapids, Friday, April 18, 7:05PM (if necessary)

Game Five: Cedar Rapids @ Waterloo, Saturday, April 19, 7:05PM (if necessary)