
Komets Spoil Mallards' Opener
October 14, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
MOLINE, Ill. - Jamie Schaafsma scored a pair of goals- including the game winner- and Shawn Szydlowski and Jason Binkley provided a goal and two assists apiece as the Fort Wayne Komets (1-0-0) ripped off four straight goals on the way to a 6-2 opening night victory over the host Quad City Mallards (0-1-0) Friday night.
The Komets spoiled the Mallards' twentieth season opener by scoring four times in the second period. Fort Wayne was on the power play when Gabriel Beaupre's blue line blast broke a 1-1 tie at 2:42 of the second. Just 39 seconds after the Mallards' Mike Monfredo knotted the contest by scoring on the power play from the right wing circle at 7:45 of the middle frame, Schaafsma put the Komets in front for good from the doorstep. Binkley stretched the gap to 4-2 by sweeping the puck home from the right wing circle at 14:58. At 17:33 Garrett Thompson delivered the fifth Fort Wayne goal on a 3-on-2 rush.
After C.J. Motte replaced Adam Vay in the Mallard goal at the start of the third period, Schaafsma converted Szydlowski's centering pass to cap off the night for the Komets just one minute and 52 seconds into the third.
Early on it seemed the game might take a different course. Justin Kovacs' one timer from the slot gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead at 10:41 of the first period. However, Szydlowski replied with a wrist shot from the left wing circle at 15:38 of the first and the Komets never trailed again.
The Mallards Friday night were without newly minted team captain Chris Francis- who is on bereavement leave- but did get a goal from Monfredo, who is an alternate captain for a second straight season and an assist from rookie Alex Petan, who has also been named an alternate captain.
The Mallards and Komets meet again tomorrow night in Fort Wayne. The Mallards next play at home Wednesday night, October 26 against the Missouri Mavericks. That game and all Mallards Wednesday night home games this season will face off at the special early start time of 6:35 p.m.
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season home games- including the game on October 26- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
About the Quad City Mallards
One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007; in the International Hockey League in 2009-10; and in the Central Hockey League from 2010 through 2014. The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record. In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched. The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club. For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net. Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/qcmallards.
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