Kovacs Departs, Graves Returns to Mallards
December 17, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
MOLINE, Ill. - The Quad City Mallards today announced forward Justin Kovacs has departed to pursue a playing opportunity in Europe and has been placed on the Mallards' suspended list and defenseman Jacob Graves has been reassigned to the Mallards from the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters by the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets. In addition, the Mallards have placed defenseman Alexander Kuqali on 21-day injured reserve.
Kovacs, 26, scored two goals and picked up six assists in 11 games with the Mallards this season. The 5-foot-11, 193-pound native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan missed the Mallards' last ten games after suffering an upper body injury in a November 12 game against the Indy Fuel. Kovacs last season scored 20 goals and added 40 assists to total 60 points in in 68 games with the Mallards.
Kovacs joined the Mallards last year after spending just over one full season with the Kalamazoo Wings. Prior to turning professional, he played for four seasons at Western Michigan University.
Graves, 22, did not see any game action with Cleveland after being after being reassigned to the Monsters last week. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Barrie, Ontario, native has picked up one assist in 13 games with the Mallards this season. Graves scored once and added an assist in 19 games with Cleveland as a rookie last year. Graves also played nine ECHL games- and registered one assist- with the Cincinnati Cyclones last season.
Graves turned pro after four and a half seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. He capped off his junior career by helping the London Knights win the Memorial Cup- which is awarded to the major junior champions of Canada- in the spring of 2016.
Kuqali was placed on I.R. retroactive to December 3. He has missed the Mallards' last two games after suffering an upper body injury last Sunday during a victory over the Kansas City Mavericks. Kuqali has scored once and notched five assists in twenty games so far this season.
The Mallards return to action Thursday night on the road against the Fuel. The Mallards next play at home next Wednesday night, December 20 at 6:35 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets. Fans can enjoy $1 10-ounce beers from TaxSlayer Center concession stands during all Mallards Wednesday home games this season.
Tickets for next Wednesday's contest and all Mallards regular season home games are now on sale at the TaxSlayer Center box office, Ticketmaster toll free charge-by-phone ( 1-800-745-3000 ) and ticketmaster.com . 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.
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