Mallards Duo Earns Monthly Honors
January 5, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL-The United Hockey League announced today that Mallards forward Don Parsons is the UHL Player of the Month and rookie forward Justin Chwedoruk is the UHL Rookie of the Month. Parsons is the first Mallard to win the monthly league award since Jeff Williams won the honor is March of 2003. Chwedoruk is the first Mallard to be named UHL Rookie of the Month since the award's introduction prior to the 2005-06 season.
Parsons scored a league-leading 16 goals in the month of December. He also added five assists for a total of 21 points during the month. The Boston native kicked off the month with two goals on December 1st vs. Fort Wayne. It marked the first of four multiple goal performances for Parsons during the month. He recorded his second multiple goal game on December 3rd when he netted two goals with an assist vs. Elmira.
The 14-year veteran began a seven-game scoring streak with four points (two goals and two assists) in Rockford on December 15th. The second goal in the Rockford game was the 600th of Parsons' pro career. He is just the sixth player in minor pro hockey history to reach the 600 goal plateau. On December 20th, Parsons recorded four goals in a 7-1 win over Bloomington. He is the first Mallard player to score four goals in a game since Chad Powers accomplished the feat on April 1st, 2001. The first of the quartet of markers was the 602nd of his pro career, which places Parsons on top of the list of American-born goal scorers in minor pro hockey history. Parsons closed the month with a pair of power-play goals in the final two minutes of a 4-2 win over Muskegon on December 31st.
On the season, Parsons lead the UHL in goals with 25 and power-play markers with 16. He is just six power-play goals shy of tying Chad Woollard's franchise record in the category (22 during the 2005-06 season). Parsons ranks seventh in the UHL in points with 35 on the season. He will represent the Mallards at the UHL All-Star Classic on January 17th in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Chwedoruk scored 20 points in the month of December on seven goals and 13 assists. The speedy forward opened the month with three points (two goals and an assist) in the first two games of December. The month opening performances marked the end of a seven-game point streak that began for Chwedoruk in mid November.
Chwedoruk began a new scoring streak on December 16th when he earned an assist vs. Port Huron. The St. Albert, Alberta native recorded points in each of the next five Mallards games. During the streak, he scored two goals and added eight assists for ten points. Chwedoruk recorded a three point night with two shorthanded goals and an assist on December 30th in Flint. He closed the month with an assist in the Mallards 4-2 win over Muskegon on New Year's Eve.
Chwedoruk is third in scoring amongst UHL rookies. He has 30 points on nine goals and 21 assists. He ranks second in assists amongst first-year UHLers. Chwedoruk is one of four Mallards forwards that have been selected to represent the team at the 2007 UHL All-Star Classic.
The Mallards are home tonight to host the Kalamazoo Wings. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The Mallards opening home stand of 2007 continues on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne. It's Mercer County Night as all residents, businesses and employees from Mercer County will receive tickets for just $10. For more information call the Mallards office at (309) 764-7825. Individual tickets for all Mallards home games are available at The MARK box office, via phone at (563) 326-1111 or on-line at ticketmaster.com.
• Discuss this story on the International Hockey League 2 message board...
International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 5, 2007
- Brown, Doyle, Big Snake deliver Hogs win - Rockford IceHogs
- Flags Rally to Snag Point in Shootout With Komets - Port Huron Flags
- Generals Rout Jackals 8-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Hetz finds âdiamond on ice' - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- UHL names monthly award winners - IHL 2
- Quad City's Justin Chwedoruk named Easton UHL Rookie of the Month - IHL 2
- Flags Mascot Hits Myspace - Port Huron Flags
- Mallards Duo Earns Monthly Honors - Quad City Mallards
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.
