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Frank Anzalone Named Mallards' Head Coach

August 11, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (August 11, 2009) - The Quad City Mallards of the AA+ International Hockey League announced in a press conference today that Frank Anzalone has been named the Mallards' Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. In addition to taking on the Mallards' coaching duties, Anzalone will also coordinate all player scouting, recruitment and acquisitions. Quad Cities hockey fans will have their first opportunity to meet Anzalone this evening as the Mallards host "Pick Your Seat Night" from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the i wireless Center.

"On behalf of the entire Mallards organization, our season ticket holders, as well as our corporate sponsors, myself and Eric Galler, we're very glad to welcome Frank Anzalone and his family to the Quad City Mallards," said Christopher Lencheski, Managing Member of the Mallards. "Coach Anzalone brings a unique mix of developmental success along with recruiting success. The number of National Hockey League general managers and assistant general managers, as well as head coaches that we spoke to about Frank was overwhelmingly supportive of Frank's coaching record and success and particularly of his understanding that the coaching job goes beyond the rink in the Quad City area."

Anzalone, who has signed a two year contract with the Mallards with an option for a third year, brings a wealth of experience to the Quad Cities, having previously been a development coach for the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders.

The Brooklyn, New York, native has been building and guiding successful teams at the professional, collegiate, junior and high school levels since 1980.

"I am excited for the opportunity to guide the Mallards organization. I have enjoyed my time with Chris Lencheski and look forward to meeting the great hockey fans in the Quad Cities," Anzalone said.

Anzalone was most recently the Development Coach and college and professional scout in the Lightning organization. Prior to that, he spent the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons piloting the Johnstown Chiefs, then the Lightning's ECHL affiliate, to back-to-back playoff appearances. Anzalone had previously coached prospects in the Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators organizations.

"Frank is an outstanding hockey coach and an even better person. Having coached players at virtually every level he knows what it takes to put a winning product on the ice and how to help his players achieve their goals and dreams. He is an excellent teacher, an inspirational bench boss and a coach who cares about his players as people," said former Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster. "Frank's teams play with grit, passion and emotion, and because he believes in recruiting players of high character they also understand the importance of giving back to the community. Mallards fans are going to love Frank the coach as well as Frank the person, and the hockey team he puts on the ice."

In all, Anzalone has directed his teams to nine postseason berths over 12 seasons as a professional coach with the ECHL's Chiefs, Pee Dee Pride, Roanoke Express and Nashville Knights and the American Hockey League's Newmarket Saints and Lowell Lock Monsters. Anzalone has earned numerous accolades for his professional coaching work. Under his tutelage Roanoke made five consecutive ECHL Kelly Cup playoff appearances and he was later inducted into the Roanoke Valley Hockey Hall of Fame. Anzalone served as ECHL Southern Conference All-Star Coach in 2000 and his Pee Dee team won the 2000 Palmetto Cup as the top ECHL team in South Carolina. In the AHL, Anzalone's Lowell squad won the Atlantic Division title in its first year of existence.

Anzalone has also known great success in college hockey. He twice served as head coach at Lake Superior State University, spending a total of a dozen seasons behind the Lakers' bench and directing LSSU to the 1988 NCAA title. Anzalone won more games than any other coach in Lake Superior State history, going 232-225-59 as Laker boss. He was named both the NCAA and Central Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in 1987-88 and is a member of the Lake Superior State Athletic Hall of Fame. Long time NHL great Doug Weight is the most prominent among a host of players tutored by Anzalone at Lake State who went on to successful pro careers.

Anzalone began his head coaching career in 1980-81 with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the junior United States Hockey League. He broke into coaching after playing college hockey at the University of New Hampshire and the State University of New York-Buffalo, where he earned a degree in physical education. Anzalone and his wife Teresa have one son, Francis.

Player signings for the upcoming season are among Anzalone's first orders of business as the Mallards' new coach. It is expected that several signings will be announced in the coming days. Anzalone will lead the Mallards into game action for the first time on Saturday, October 17 in Flint against the Generals. The Mallards' home opener on Saturday, October 24 against the Fort Wayne Komets will also serve as the culmination of "Hocktoberfest," a celebration of all things hockey in the Quad Cities.

This evening's "Pick Your Seat Night" will give fans the chance not only to get to know Anzalone but also to spend time with former long-time Mallard fan favorite Kerry Toporowski. In addition, all fans in attendance will have the chance to enter to win a trip for two to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. "Pick Your Seat Night" will see both new and existing season ticket holders test out in person their seats for the most fan-focused season ticket plans and promotional schedule in professional hockey.

The Mallards' "QUACK PACK" full season ticket plans, which include the ICE ROW Cold Pass Seats ($25-Rows 1 and 2), Platinum Seats ($15, walk up $18), End Seats ($13, walk up $16), Upper Platinum ($11, walk up $13), and Upper End Seats ($9, walk up $11), encompass all 38 regular season home games as well as discounts on all Mallards home playoff games. As a QUACK PACK member, fans save 20% off face value of the walk up ticket price. With a full season plan for every household budget starting as low as $342, QUACK PACK members select exclusively from the best seats in i wireless Center. For the ultimate in financial convenience, season ticket holders may choose the flexible and secure "EZ-Pay" Plan, which allows for monthly no-interest payments through March of 2010. Season ticket holders receive many other exclusive benefits, including one (1) team-autographed replica jersey with the purchase of four (4) full season Platinum Tickets, VIP privileges, the Buddy Plan, VIP-only Fantasy Camp, Meet the Team events, inside information, merchandise discounts, discounted single game tickets, and an exclusive season ticket holder gift. Fans can guarantee their season tickets by calling the Mallards at i wireless Center at 309-277-1364 to make a $50 per seat deposit.

The Mallards are the first team in the history of professional hockey to offer the fan an experience like no other, the ICE ROW Cold Pass. Designated as the first row closest to the ice, ICE ROW ticket holders see, feel, and live all the high-intensity game action with all the access usually reserved for only a select few. ICE ROW Cold Pass ticket holders are granted entry into the arena 30 minutes prior to walk up general public admissions and are treated to Mallards locker room and hockey operations access up to 30 minutes before the game to hear coach's comments and live the behind-the-scenes experience.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 11, 2009


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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