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Mallards Add Quartet

October 10, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (October 10, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards have signed forward/defenseman Ben Woodley, forward/defenseman Jung Ahn, forward Jimmy Kim and goaltender Michael Shibrowski, the Mallards announced today.

The 6' 6", 230-pound Woodley notched a goal and an assist while collecting 47 penalty minutes in 11 games with the Central Hockey League's Brampton Beast last season. The 22-year old London, Ontario, native spent 2012-13 in the ECHL, where he split time between the Toledo Walleye and Greenville Road Warriors, producing one goal and two assists along with 30 penalty minutes in 19 games. Woodley first skated in the professional ranks when he played in three playoff games for the ECHL's Toledo Walleye in the spring of 2012.

"I didn't want to be caught not having enough big guys to look out for the other guys on our roster," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski. "Ben has a reputation for being able to score as well as handle the rough stuff. Someone like Ben can make the rest of our guys feel about three inches taller."

Woodley turned pro after two junior A seasons. In 2011-12 he scored five times and picked up 42 assists for 47 points and was also assessed 125 minutes in penalties in 59 games with the British Columbia Hockey League's Prince George Spruce Kings. Woodley joined the Spruce Kings late in the 2010-11 season after starting that campaign with the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Kim and Ahn- who, like Shibrowski, have inked tryout agreements- were both born in South Korea and raised in Canada. The duo played for a pair of Finnish teams last season. Kim, 22, scored once and added three assists while splitting 24 games between Kiekko Vantaa and Bewe Tusski while the 21-year old Ahn registered a goal and two assists in 25 games with those two clubs. Kim and Ahn started on their twin track when they returned to the land of their birth in 2012-13 to get their first taste of pro hockey in five game stints with Anyang Halla of the Asia League.

Before turning pro, the 6' 0", 187-pound Kim played five seasons of junior hockey for seven teams in five leagues. He suited up for the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Markham Waxers and Milton Icehawks; the North American Hockey League's Janesvile Jets; the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League's St. Mary's Lincolns; and the Southern Ontario Hockey League's Luccan Irish.

The 6' 2", 190-pound Ahn played for six junior teams- the Flin Flon Bombers (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League), Virden Oil Capitals (Manitoba Junior Hockey League), Dauphin Kings (MJHL), Bridgewater Lumberjacks (Maritime Junior A Hockey League), Sicamous Eagles (Kootenay International Junior Hockey League) and Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)- over three seasons before moving on to the pro ranks.

Kim and Ahn both also play for the South Korean national team, which will compete in the 2018 Olympic hockey tournament as the host nation.

"We know Jimmy and Jung have been successful in other leagues so we are giving them a chance to show their talents and to see if they can be successful for us," said Ruskowski.

Shibrowski, 23, completed his college career at the University of Minnesota in the spring. The 6' 2", 194-pound Edina, Minnesota, native last season went 2-1-0 with a 2.34 goals against average, a .912 save percentage and one shutout in five games. Over his three years as a Golden Gopher, Shibrowski went 3-2-0 in nine games while posting a 2.44 goals against average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout. Shibrowski went to three consecutive NCAA tournaments with Minnesota, twice reaching the Frozen Four and last season going all the way to the national championship game. Shibrowski and the Gophers also claimed three straight regular season conference titles.

"Michael is a good young goaltender from a strong program with very good size," said Ruskowski. "He's played well in junior and in college so we're looking forward to seeing what he can do at this level."

Shibrowski first played collegiately for Colorado College in 2009-10. He saw action in two games for the Tigers- going 1-0-0 with a 3.20 goals against average and a .895 save percentage- before departing Colorado Springs.

Shibrowski also played 25 junior games in 2009-10 for the North American Hockey League's Owatonna Express. He went 14-5-3 and turned in a 3.15 goals against average, a .895 save percentage and one shutout for the Express. The following season Shibrowski enjoyed a strong junior campaign with the United States Hockey League's Des Moines Buccaneers, for whom he went 21-16-5 in 45 games while recording a 2.59 goals against average, a .912 save percentage and four shutouts.

The Mallards open the 2014-15 season at home against the Rapid City Rush on Friday, October 24 at 7:05 p.m. The Mallards hit the ice for training camp tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the River's Edge in Davenport. All training camp sessions are open to the public free of charge.

Season tickets for the coming campaign are still available. Ticket packages are available to meet almost any budget. A limited edition season ticket holder Mallard jersey, 12 additional ticket vouchers per seat and free parking are among a host of exclusive benefits available to season ticket holders. For more ticket information fans can call the Mallards' business office at 309-277-1364.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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