Sokol and Deanovich earn USHL weekly honors for Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Black Hawks Claim Two USHL Weekly Honors After Three-Game Weekend Stretch

The Waterloo Black Hawks secured a pair of United States Hockey League weekly awards on Monday after capturing two out of three games during a busy weekend series at home and on the road. Forward Cody Sokol claimed the USHL Forward of the Week recognition, while teammate Caleb Deanovich earned Defenseman of the Week honors, as reported by the Waterloo Black Hawks.

Sokol led all league skaters over the weekend with six total points, netting two goals and four assists. His standout performances pushed his season total to 17 points, tying him for eighth place in the USHL scoring race with six goals and 11 assists. The Wisconsin recruit opened the weekend on Friday at Young Arena, notching a career-best three-point game with one goal and two assists as the Black Hawks cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers. He followed that effort on Saturday with two helpers in a 3-2 overtime win against the Dubuque Fighting Saints, including the primary setup on the game-winning goal. On Sunday, Sokol added his sixth goal of the season during the middle stages of the second period in Dubuque, though the team ultimately fell 6-3.

Deanovich also made an immediate impact across all three contests, recording at least one point in every game to lead all league defensemen with four points on one goal and three assists. On Friday against Sioux City, his power play assist helped set up Dylan Nolan for the eventual game-winner. Deanovich then delivered the decisive strike himself just one minute into Saturday’s overtime period against Dubuque. Closing out the weekend Sunday, he added two more assists on goals by Sal Viviano during first-period power plays. With nine total points—two goals and seven assists—Deanovich is tied for eighth in scoring among USHL defensemen, while his eight power play points tie him for second among all skaters in the league.

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Both Sokol and Deanovich are in their second seasons with Waterloo. Sokol joined the roster via a trade with the Green Bay Gamblers last winter, while Deanovich entered the league as the Black Hawks’ first-round selection during Phase I of the 2025 USHL Draft, finishing last season as the youngest full-time skater on the squad. Their recognitions follow teammate Charlie Menard’s selection as USHL Goaltender of the Week on September 28th, while the Omaha Lancers’ Anthony Sciere picked up the goaltending honors alongside Sokol and Deanovich on Monday.

The Black Hawks return to home ice at Young Arena on Friday at 6:35 p.m. to host the Lincoln Stars for Country Night, presented by Texas Roadhouse, featuring live music in the Coors Light Cold Zone prior to puck drop. The evening also marks the official kickoff for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign alongside a Kwik Rewards Night promotion where the first 1,000 fans receive a voucher for a free Kwik Star bakery item. Tickets are available through the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office.