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Mallards' Lang Named CHL MVP Finalist; Hellyer, Duffy Also Finalists

March 6, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (March 6, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards' Mickey Lang has been named one of five finalists for the Central Hockey League Most Valuable Player award while the Mallards' Mike Hellyer has been named a finalist for CHL's Rookie of the Year award and Quad City's Matt Duffy has been selected as a finalist for the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman honor, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Lang, 26, leads the CHL in shorthanded goals (5), is tied for the league lead in game winning goals (6), ranks second in goals (30), is tied for sixth in points (66) and power play goals (9) and is tied for tenth in assists (36).

The MVP nomination is just the latest in a string of honors that have come Lang's way. The 5' 11", 174-pound Reno, Nevada, native was named CHL Player of the Month for January and league Player of the Week for the period ending January 20 before last week being named CHL Third Star for the month of February. In addition, Lang in January made 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 off his first pro campaign by earning CHL Rookie of the Month and CHL First Star honors for March.

Lang enjoyed 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 has a chance to become the second Mallard in as many years to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Brandon Marino took home the award last season.

Among rookies, Hellyer, 26, leads the CHL in points (49), ranks second in assists (30) and ranks fifth in goals (19). The Brandon, Manitoba, native ranks second on the Mallards in points and assists and third in goals.

Hellyer joined the Mallards for his first full professional season after producing a promising playoff performance for the CHL's Texas Brahmas last spring. Fresh from the University of Manitoba, the 5' 9", 170-pound Hellyer scored three goals- including two game winners- and added three assists in a dozen postseason games with the Brahmas, who he joined after a brief stint late in the regular season with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads. Hellyer played five seasons for the University of Manitoba before turning pro, scoring 36 times and producing 98 points in 135 games as a Bison.

Duffy, 26, is tied for fifth among defensemen in points (35), ranks sixth among blue liners in assists (28) and is tied for ninth in goals (7). The Portland, Maine, product has been especially effective in 2013, producing 22 points (five goals and 17 assists) in his last 22 games.

The 6' 2", 205-pound Duffy is in his first full season with the Mallards. He first joined the team in January of 2012 after mononucleosis kept him off the ice for the first half of the 2011-12 campaign. Duffy, who was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round of the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, spent four seasons at the University of Maine before breaking into professional hockey at the tail end of the 2008-09 season. He skated for the AHL's Rochester Americans and Portland Pirates and the ECHL's Florida Everblades, Kalamazoo Wings and Gwinnet Gladiators before arriving in the Quad Cities.

Award finalists were selected by the CHL after nominations were submitted by member clubs. Awards will be voted on by CHL head coaches, team communications departments and select media members in CHL markets.

The Mallards return to action Friday night against the Mavericks in Missouri before heading home one night later for a 7:05 p.m. rematch with the Mavericks. The first 1,000 fans through the doors for Saturday evening's game will receive free Mo Mallard bobbleheads courtesy of KWQC-TV.

Tickets for Saturday night's tilt- as well as seats for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- can be purchased 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.

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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.

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