Bloomington Slips Past Mallards

January 11, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Tyler Gron scored two goals- including the game winner- as the host Bloomington Blaze edged the Quad City Mallards 3-2 Friday night.

The Blaze took the lead for good by scoring a pair of second period goals to overturn a 1-0 deficit. At 3:32 of the second Kyle Bochek swept the tying goal past Mallard netminder Neil Conway from the left wing circle. Bloomington moved in front 2-1 while on the power play when Gron blasted a one-timer from the slot at 6:25.

At 12:07 of the third period, Gron pounced on a loose puck on the Mallard doorstep and scored a goal that at the time provided vital insurance for the Blaze but would loom all the larger after, with the Quad City net empty and extra Mallard attacker on the ice, Mike Hellyer cut the gap to 3-2 with just 14.6 seconds left in the game.

The Mallards' hopes of completing a miraculous comeback in the dying moments were dashed as goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier- who made 24 saves, including a dozen in the third period alone- and the Blaze held on through the final seconds.

Mallards came up just short in the end despite having enjoyed the better start to the evening. The Mallards were on the power play when Mickey Lang one-timed the game's first goal home from the left wing circle at 4:01 of the first period, but the Blaze's run of three straight goals would prove an emphatic response.

The Mallards tomorrow night visit the Missouri Mavericks. The Mallards next play at home next Friday evening against the Fort Worth Brahmas. Next Friday the Mallards will wear Turn "Back to Back" the Clock jerseys that mark the fifteenth anniversary of the second of the two consecutive championships won by the Mallards in 1997 and 1998. Those jerseys will be auctioned off immediately after the Mallards wear them against the Brahmas. The auction - the first of two Genesis jersey auctions this season- will benefit the Genesis Flu Free QC program. Next Friday is also the first of the Mallards' College Nights- fans will be able to purchase $1 beer and $1 hot dogs through the end of the second intermission that evening.

Tickets for next Friday's tilt- as well as seats for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center ticket office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The

ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

The Mallards also now offer the Partial Punch Plan. The Punch Plan provides flexibility and affordability- each Punch Plan punch card can be redeemed for ten tickets- whether those tickets are for ten different games, all for the same game or anything in between- subject to availability. Partial Punch Plans can be had for as little as $70 for youth 12 and under. For more ticket package information, fans can call the Mallards at 309-277-1364.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2013


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