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Mallards Weekly Update

December 2, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Quack-to-Quack

The Mallards have won back-to-back games for the first time this season, defeating Port Huron 3-2 in a shootout last Wednesday and downing Bloomington 5-3 on Saturday evening. Last Saturday's victory was the Mallards first in regulation since a 3-1 opening night defeat of Flint on October 17.

Getting the Point

The Mallards are unbeaten in regulation (2-0-1-1) in their last four games and have suffered just one regulation loss in their last six games (2-1-1-2).

Red Light District

The Mallards scored a season-high five goals in last Saturday's win over Bloomington. Prior to that game the Mallards' had scored no more than four goals in any one contest and had not scored more than three goals in regulation. The Flock is also now no longer the lowest scoring team in the league- Quad City averages 2.4 goals per game and ranks sixth, just ahead of Flint.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards are also unbeaten in regulation (3-0-1-1) in their last five home games. Quad City has not lost in regulation at home in over a month since falling to Flint 3-2 on October 30.

Top of the Charts

Mike Zbriger (7-6-13) picked up one assist last Saturday night to move past the injured Terry Harrison and take over sole possession of the team point scoring lead.

Isn't That Special (Teams)?

The Mallards have scored six power play goals in their last six games on 31 opportunities. The Mallards remain last in the league in power play efficiency at 11.6 percent. While the Quad City ranks last in penalty kill percentage (75.0), only one team has given up fewer power play goals than the Mallards, who have allowed 15 on a league-low 60 shorthanded situations.

Streakers

Chris Lipsett has scored one goal in each of his last three games and has totaled five points during that stretch after scoring just once and notching only three points in his first 11 games. Juris Stals last Saturday night became the first Mallard to record three points (one goal and two assists) in a game this season and has now collected seven points (two goals and five assists) in his last seven games. Patrick Levesque scored last Saturday night to extend his point scoring streak to four straight games (2-3-5).

Working Overtime

The Mallards went to overtime in three straight games and in four of five contests before defeating Bloomington in regulation Saturday night.

Jonesing

Goaltender Kyle Jones was between the pipes for the Mallards' back-to-back wins last week and has now gone unbeaten in regulation (3-0-1-0) in his last four games after losing his first four starts. During that four game regulation unbeaten streak Jones has posted a 2.49 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

Ins and Outs

The Mallards last week acquired defenseman Ryan Palmer from Muskegon in exchange for cash considerations...Forward Harrison has missed three games after suffering an upper body injury November 21 night in Port Huron...Defenseman Matt Burke has been on injured reserve since suffering a broken ankle November 8 in Flint.

SCOUTING REPORT

Fort Wayne

The Komets have won four of their last five games...Last Thursday Fort Wayne played its forty-eighth straight Thanksgiving game, defeating Flint 5-4 to claim a thirtieth victory on the holiday...One night later in Muskegon the Lumberjacks halted Fort Wayne's three game winning streak by downing the Komets' 3-1...The Komets bounced back with a 4-2 home win over Port Huron last Saturday night...P.C. Drouin (4-12-16) is tied for sixth in the league in assists and ranks eighth in points. Drouin is in the midst of a four game point scoring streak (1-4-5)...Colin Chaulk (1-14-15) ranks fourth in assists and is tied for ninth in points...Justin Chwedoruk (5-1-6) has scored one goal in each of his last five games to move into a tie for the team goal scoring lead despite having played just six games for the Komets since joining the team last month...With fellow netminder Nick Boucher out of the lineup due to injury, Tim Haun has made ten straight starts for the Komets. On the season Haun (8-4-0, 2.39, .907) leads the IHL in wins, ranks fourth in goals against average and ranks fifth in save percentage... As a team the Komets give up fewer goals per game (2.4) than any other club in the league and rank second (85.8 percent) in penalty killing...Fort Wayne boasts the league's best home record (6-1-0-0)...Veteran Komets Coach Al Sims has piloted Fort Wayne to both the Turner Cup and regular season titles each of the last two years and has now steered the club to the Turner Cup a total of three times. Sims is in the third season of his second stint behind the Komets' bench. He capped of his initial four-year run in Fort Wayne by piloting the Komets to the 1993 Turner Cup. Sims spent one season- 1996-97- as head coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. As a player, Sims, a defenseman, skated in 476 NHL games with Boston, Hartford and Los Angeles...The Mallards have gone 0-2-0-1 against Fort Wayne this season.

Muskegon

The Lumberjacks last Friday extended their winning streak to nine straight games by defeating Fort Wayne 3-1. A 4-2 loss to Dayton one night later halted that streak. The 'Jacks fell in a shootout 4-3 last Sunday in Flint...The Lumberjacks have suffered just one regulation loss in their last 12 games (9-1-0-2)...Muskegon is three points ahead of Port Huron in the race for the top spot in the league...The Lumberjacks have more home wins (9-2-0-0) than any other IHL team...Muskegon's Robin Bouchard (15-16-31) and Todd Robinson (9-22-31) are tied for the league lead in points. Bouchard, the reigning IHL Player of the Week, leads the league in goals and ranks third in assists and Robinson tops the IHL in assists and ranks fifth in goals. John DiPace (10-20-30) is just behind his line mates in the point scoring race and ranks second in assists and fourth in goals. DiPace was named IHL Player of the Month for November earlier this week... Now in his sixteenth pro season- the thirteenth during which he has spent at least some time with Muskegon- Bouchard has recorded a total of 1017 points in a Muskegon uniform...Sebastien Centomo (7-3-0-1, 2.49, .913) was earlier this week named the league's Goaltender of the Month for November. Centomo ranks second in the IHL in wins and is fifth in goals against average and save percentage... This is the first year of Rich Kromm's second stint as Muskegon coach. Kromm first piloted the Muskegon Fury from 1998-2001. That successful tenure was highlighted by the Fury's 1999 Colonial Cup title. As a player Kromm skated in 372 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and New York Islanders...The Mallards have suffered a pair of overtime losses at the hands of the Lumberjacks.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Friday, December 11, 7:00 p.m.- Mallards vs. Dayton Gems

Stadium Scarf Night

Just in time for the onset of winter, the first 1,000 fans through the gates for the Mallards matchup with Dayton will receive free Mallards stadium scarves.

Sunday, December 13, 4:00 p.m.- Mallards vs. Flint Generals

Teddy Bear Toss to Benefit Toys For Tots; Family Skate

Bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to the game and hurl it onto the ice after the Mallards' first goal in their game against the Flint. The teddy bears will be collected from the ice and donated to Toys For Tots to benefit children in need in the Quad Cities just in time for Christmas. Bring your skates and join the Mallards on the ice after the game.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Mallards tickets are available at the i wireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. through the end of the second period.

Group ICExperiences

Mallards group packages are fun, easy to plan and memorable and are a perfect fit for business outings, teams, and school groups, family gatherings and just about any other kind of outing. Groups of ten or more receive a discount off the regular walk-up ticket price and are seated together for all the action. The Mallards offer a wide variety of "Group ICExperiences," including packages that provide the chance to sit on the bench or in the penalty box before a game or ride the Zamboni and much more! The Mallards can also help you use a group outing as a fundraiser for your organization. For group ticket and fundraising information contact the Mallards at 309-277-1364.

ON THE AIR

Fans can listen to all the action of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Sports Medicine this week and throughout the season on 93.9 WYEC-FM and on www.myqcmallards.com. Coverage starts with the Mallards Pre-Game Show Presented by Genesis Sports Medicine 30 minutes before opening faceoff. Live pay-per-view video webcasts of Mallards action is also be available at www.myqcmallards.com courtesy of B2 Networks.

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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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