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Mallards' Lang Named Oakley CHL First Star for March; Marino Tops Three Stars for Season

March 27, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (March 27, 2012) - Quad City Mallards forward Mickey Lang has been named Oakley Central Hockey League First Star for the month of March while Mallard forward Brandon Marino finished the season as the league leader in Oakley Three Stars voting, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Lang, a 25-year old rookie, took first star honors after scoring nine goals and collecting 13 assists for a league-best 22 points and posting a league-high plus/minus rating of +19 in 13 games in March. The 5' 10", 174-pound Reno, Nevada native finished the season riding a four-game goal-scoring streak (four goals) and a five-game point-scoring streak (4-4-8). Lang collected at least a point in all but one of the Mallards' March tilts and rang up two or more points in a game eight times during the month. Lang kicked off March in style by setting personal career highs for assists (3) and points (3) on March 1 against Bloomington and two nights later matched that feat against Evansville.

"This recognition is well deserved and, if anything, overdue for Mickey," said Mallards coach and general manager David Bell. "He's a great guy who did a great job for us, especially late in the season."

Players are awarded five points each time they are named first star of a game, three points for second star recognition and one point for being tabbed third star. Lang in March was named first star twice, second star four times and third star twice and finished the month with 24 voting points via this system.

Lang finished the season with 19 goals and 40 points along with a plus/minus rating of +18 in 61 games. He broke loose to pile up 22 points in his final 13 games after totaling 18 points in his first 48 outings.

Lang spent four seasons at Division III Manhattanville College before turning pro with the Mallards this season. He scored 16 times and produced 27 points in 24 games with the Valiants in 2010-11. In 88 career collegiate games, Lang registered 47 goals and 93 points.

Lang joins Marino (January) and Eric Giosa (October) as the third Mallard to earn a monthly first star nod this season.

Over the course of the season, Marino, who yesterday was named the league's Most Valuable Player, was named first star seven times, took second start on ten occasions and was voted third star eight times to finish the campaign with 73 points via three stars voting, just ahead of Todd Robinson (71) of Evansville.

Marino, 25, enjoyed a breakout season during which he led the league with 41 goals and finished second with 90 points. Marino is the first Mallard since Luke Stauffacher (42) in 2006-07 to top 40 goals in a season and the first since Mike Kompon (90) in 2004-05 to reach the 90-point plateau. In addition, the 5' 9", 185-pound Riverside, California native led the league in power play goals (13), ranked fourth in assists (49) and finished tied for fourth in shorthanded goals (3) and game winning goals (7) while also posting a plus/minus rating of +9. Marino was named to the All-CHL Team earlier this month.

Mallards 2012-13 season tickets are now available; season tickets packages paid for in full by April 13 will be discounted 15 percent. The Mallards offer ticket packages to meet any budget, including youth season tickets now available for as little at $165. For more season ticket information, fans can call the Mallards at 309-277-1364.

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