Mallards Deal with Danbury to Add Gretzky & Christiansen
Published on July 6, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL-The Quad City Mallards announced today that the team has acquired center Brent Gretzky and right wing Doug Christiansen from the Danbury Trashers in exchange for the rights to left wing Jamie Thompson.
Gretzky is under contract for the 2005-06 season after appearing in 37 games with Danbury last season. In 2004-05, he recorded 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 37 games. The playmaking forward is one of the top point producers in minor league hockey. Before joining the Trashers, Gretzky spent the previous two seasons in Port Huron where he recorded 74 goals and 67 assists for 141 points while playing for the now-defunct Port Huron Beacons.
Gretzky's career has included time with four United League clubs (Asheville and Fort Wayne in addition to Port Huron and Danbury). In 1999-2000, the Brantford, Ontario native led the UHL in scoring while playing for the Asheville Smoke. In 2000-01 while with the Fort Wayne Komets, he was recognized as the UHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player.
The younger brother of NHL All-Time Scoring Leader, Wayne Gretzky, Brent Gretzky's career has included appearances in the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, International Hockey League and Europe. Gretzky played a total of 13 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. He recorded one NHL goal with three assists for four points during his time with the Lightning. Gretzky has appeared in 818 professional games. During his 14-year career, he has scored 303 goals with 561 assists for 864 points.
Doug Christiansen will begin his fourth pro season this fall. Christiansen has received a contract offer from the Mallards for the upcoming season. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native played 77 games with Danbury last year recording 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points with 164 penalty minutes. He also made his American League debut in 2004-05 as he appeared in two games with the Manchester Monarchs and one contest with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. During his first three pro campaigns, Christiansen has appeared in 210 games and scored 47 goals with 60 assists for 107 points. He began his career as a defenseman in the ECHL in 2002-03 before moving to forward in 2003-04.
Thompson appeared in 15 Mallards games in 2003-04 after being acquired from the Elmira Jackals on March 14th. Thompson recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 points in the regular season before leading the team in post-season scoring with seven points (three goals and four assists) in seven games. As a condition of Thompson coming to the Quad Cites following the Elmira trade in March, the Mallards agreed to return Thompson to an east coast franchise where he could be closer to his family.
Mallards season tickets are on sale now. Call the Mallards ticket office at (309) 764-7825 to reserve your seat for 2005-06. Keep checking qcmallards.com for the latest news on all Mallards events.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from July 6, 2005
- Flags Acquire UHL Standout Mike Bayrack - Port Huron Flags
- Vipers to take on rival Richmond 18 times during regular season - Roanoke Valley Vipers
- Hogs to open 2005-06 at home - Rockford IceHogs
- K-Wings schedule unveiled - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mallards unveil 2005-06 schedule - Quad City Mallards
- Trashers roster taking shape with new faces and returning players - Danbury Trashers
- Mallards Deal with Danbury to Add Gretzky & Christiansen - Quad City Mallards
- St. Pierre agrees to deal with Komets - Fort Wayne Komets
- Komets home opener set for November 5 - Fort Wayne Komets
- UHL releases 2005-06 regular season schedule - IHL 2
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