To Waterloo, but first Alberta

July 30, 2024 – United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks press release

Waterloo, Iowa – Four players with ties to the Waterloo Black Hawks were named to the U.S. U-18 Men’s Select Team by USA Hockey on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Carter Casey and forwards Chase Jette, Matthew Lansing and Jesse Orlowsky will all wear red, white and blue during the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, starting August 5.

“The Black Hawks organization would like to congratulate each of these young men for earning this opportunity,” said Black Hawks General Manager Bryn Chyzyk. “We wish them all a great tournament and look forward to cheering them on next week.”

Jette, Lansing and Orlowsky all made their Waterloo debuts on the same weekend last season. In an away game on December 15 against the Omaha Lancers, Jette and Lansing helped the Hawks to a 4-0 victory. Orlowsky joined the lineup the following night when Waterloo visited the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Lansing has played in 11 total Waterloo games in 2023-24. After his stint with the Hawks in December, the Buffalo native has seen the ice for seven of the team’s final 10 regular-season games. Lansing has also dressed for two USHL Clark Cup Playoff games. He has committed to Quinnipiac.

Jette recorded assists in both appearances for the Black Hawks. He was also +2. Jette also had a brief USHL stint last season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Waterloo selected the Wisconsin recruit in the third round of Phase I of the 2023 USHL Draft.

Orlowsky joined the Hawks organization as a second-round Phase I selection in 2023. His only appearance in Waterloo thus far was the Dec. 16 game in Des Moines. Orlowsky is committed to Harvard.

Casey was a 2024 Phase II selection. He was 10-7-0 with a .913 save percentage last winter for Grand Rapids (MN) High School.

In addition to current and future Black Hawks players, the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team also has ties to Waterloo through a few former coaches. Chad Kolarik was a Hawks assistant in 2021-22 and currently works with the NTDP. PD Melgoza was on Waterloo’s staff for two seasons from 2021-2023 and is now with the University of Alaska. During the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Kolarik will sit on the bench alongside head coach Garrett Raboin, while Melgoza will work with the Select Team’s goaltenders and serve as the team’s video coach.

The United States will play in a preliminary group with the Czech Republic, Finland and Germany. Canada, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland are also competing in the event. Last year, Team USA won a bronze medal. That edition of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team included Eero Butella and Will Felicio, both of whom played for the Black Hawks last season.

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