Mallards' Lang Finishes Second in CHL MVP Voting

March 25, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (March 25, 2013) - Quad City Mallards forward Mickey Lang has finished second in Central Hockey League Most Valuable Player voting, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Missouri Mavericks forward Sebastien Thinel won the MVP award by collecting 22 of 44 votes cast by CHL coaches, team communications departments and media members while Lang garnered 16 votes.

"We are very proud of what Mickey has accomplished this season," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski. "His attitude and ability has been very important to us all season and he's very deserving of this kind of recognition." "

Lang, 26, broke loose for a superb second season with the Mallards. The 5' 10", 174-pound Reno, Nevada, native led the CHL in shorthanded goals (6) and game winning goals (11), finished tied for the league lead in power play goals (13), ranked second in goals (41), finished fourth in points (83), was tied for sixth in plus/minus rating (+20) and finished seventh in assists (42).

Lang finished the campaign on a hot streak that helped propel the Mallards to a season-ending five-game winning streak, a league-best 11-2-0 record in the month of March and a berth in the CHL playoffs. He ripped off 13 goals in the final 12 games of the regular season and piled up 27 points (16 goals and 11 assists) in his last 19 outings.

All-Star runner-up recognition is just the latest in a string of honors for Lang, who last week was named to the All-CHL Team. Lang was named CHL Player of the Month for January and CHL Third Star for the month of February. He earned league Player of the Week honors for the period ending January 20 after breaking loose for a natural hat trick and six points- the highest single game total in the league this season and the most recorded by a Mallard in one game in over six years- in a January 19 win over the Denver Cutthroats. January also saw Lang make his American Hockey League debut for the Rockford IceHogs.

Lang returned to the Mallards this year after scoring 19 goals and totaling 40 points in 61 games as a rookie last season. He capped of his first pro campaign by earning CHL Rookie of the Month and CHL Oakley First Star honors for March.

Lang played four standout seasons at Division III Manhattanville College before turning pro. He was named to the All-ECAC West Conference second team in each of his final two seasons as a Valiant. Lang, who scored 16 times and produced 27 points in 24 games as a senior in 2010-11, finished his collegiate career ranked second in school history in goals (47). In all, he totaled 93 points in 88 games for Manhattanville.

Lang came close to giving the Mallards back-to-back MVP winners after Brandon Marino took home the hardware last season.

The Mallards will open their best-of-seven opening round Ray Miron President's Cup playoff series against the Fort Worth Brahmas Thursday night in Fort Worth at 7:00 p.m. The Mallards will play game two- also on the road- Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. before returning home for game three next Wednesday evening, April 3 at 7:05 p.m. and game four next Friday night, April 5 at 7:05 p.m. Should a fifth game prove necessary, it will be played at the i wireless Center next Saturday night, April 6 at 7:05 p.m. If a sixth game is required, the series will shift back to Fort Worth for that tilt on Tuesday night, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. If the series goes to a seventh game, the Brahmas would host the deciding contest on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. in Fort Worth.

Tickets for the Mallards' first round home games are now on sale. All first round playoff seats will be available for just $12 for adults and $9 for youth 12 and under. In addition, adult opening round tickets for fans who wear green to playoff games as part of the Mallards' "Green Out", will be available for just $10 at the i wireless Center ticket office.

Playoff tickets can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center ticket office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2013


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