Mallards Set for Showdown with Eastern Division's Top Team

Published on February 28, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Moline, IL-The Mallards enjoy a rare Friday off before rejoining the UHL playoff chase on Saturday night when the team hosts Danbury. On Sunday, the Mallards visit Missouri. Entering this week, the Mallards are tied with the Richmond Riverdogs for the final UHL playoff spot.

Last week, the Mallards went 0-3-1. The week began with a 3-2 loss to the Western Division leading Rockford IceHogs. On Friday night, the Kalamazoo Wings beat Quad City 5-1 at The MARK. The Hogs pulled out another close victory over the Mallards on Saturday with a 3-1 win in Rockford. The Mallards wrapped up the week with a 20-round shootout loss to Missouri on Sunday.

Upcoming Promotions

Saturday, March 4th vs. the Danbury Trashers 7:00 p.m. Take Our Trash Night sponsored by Allied Waste and an intermission promotion featuring The Casino Rock Island Card Shot also the Mallards Annual Wing Sale for Season Ticket Holders

The Danbury Trashers visit The MARK for the only time in 2005-06 on "Take Our Trash Night" sponsored by Allied Waste. The first 500 fans will receive a mini garbage toter. Fans will also be "Dumpster Diving" for prizes during the intermission. Fans in attendance will receive past Mallards promotional items as they enter the arena. During the first intermission, lucky fans will have the chance to shoot for cash prizes in the Casino Rock Island Card Shot promotion. All Mallards Season Ticket Holders are invited to the Mallards Wing Sale featuring great prices on Mallards merchandise.

Friday, March 10th vs. the Fort Wayne Komets at The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 7:00 p.m. Mallards LIVE on Mediacom

The Mallards return to the airwaves on March 10th vs. Fort Wayne. This important match-up for playoff positioning will be seen LIVE on Mediacom Connections Channel 22 throughout the Quad City area.

Saturday, March 11th vs. the Fort Wayne Komets 7:00 p.m. Credit Union Night and Haircuts for Fans Plus the Mallards Wing Sale Continues

The Komets visit The MARK for the back end of a home and home set. It's Credit Union Night as the Mallards welcome fans from area credit unions to The MARK. Fans will also have the opportunity to get their hair cut at The MARK by the stylists from Mentality Salon. Proceeds will benefit Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities. The Mallards Annual Wing Sale continues with great prices on Mallards merchandise for all fans.

Season Ticket Holder Buddy Nights

Mallards "Buddy Nights" return on March 19th vs. Muskegon. On these special nights, season ticket holders will receive a voucher for one free upper bowl ticket for every ticket they hold. These seats can be upgraded to lower bowl tickets for just $5. For those that haven't picked up their vouchers, they are still available at the Maroon Mortgage Information Table during home games or at The Mallards Nest.

Season Ticket Holder Buddy Nights for 2005-06

Sunday, March 19th vs. Muskegon

Friday, April 14th vs. Richmond

Upcoming Games

Saturday, March 4th vs. the Danbury Trashers 7:00 p.m. at The MARK

The Danbury Trashers under former Mallards Head Coach Paul Gillis visit The MARK on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. It's the only appearance in the Quad Cities for the Trashers during the 2005-06 regular season. In addition to Gillis, the Danbury roster features four member of the 2004-05 Mallards squad. Forward Jamie Thompson and defensemen Donny Grover, Sergei Durdin and Troy Smith all skate for the Trashers after spending last year with the Mallards.

Sunday, March 5th vs. the Missouri River Otters 4:00 p.m. at The Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri

The Mallards face the Otters for the second consecutive Sunday. It's the ninth meeting of the year for the Western Division rivals. Quad City is 4-1-3 vs. Missouri this year.

Individual Tickets

Mallards individual tickets are available at The MARK box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets by phone at (563) 326-1111 or on the web at www.ticketmaster.com.

Mallards on the Air

The Maroon Mortgage Pre-Game Show is on the air 25 minutes prior to face-off on Fox Sports Radio AM 1230. During the intermissions, stay tuned for the Swiss Valley Farms Intermission Report. After the game, the All-State Insurance Christy Cox Post-Game Show will air.

Last Week's Games

Wednesday, February 22nd-Rockford 3 at Quad City 2

The UHL's top team, the Rockford IceHogs, beat the Mallards 3-2 on Wednesday night at The MARK. An early 2-0 Mallards lead was overcome by three consecutive Hogs goals. With the win, the Hogs clinch the season series. Quad City is 3-7-0 vs. Rockford with just three meetings remaining. In the first, the Mallards took a 2-0 lead on goals by Rafal Martynowski and J.J. Wrobel. Martynowski's goal, his 15th of the year, was assisted by Joel Pullman and Tom Galvin. Less than two minutes after Martynowski's goal, J.J. Wrobel recorded his 12th goal of the year to stake the Mallards to a 2-0 lead. Jesse Rycroft and Jonathan Tremblay drew assists on Wrobel's goal. The helper was Tremblay's first point as a Mallard. The Hogs began their comeback at 8:41 of the first when Jason Ralph recorded his 10th goal of the year. In the second, Steve Yetman and Dan Boeser scored to give the Hogs the lead. The Hogs held on after a scoreless third period to improve to 38-8-6 on the year.

Friday, February 24th-Kalamazoo 5 at Quad City 1

For the second time in six days, the Kalamazoo Wings beat the Mallards 5-1 at The MARK. The Wings power play was a perfect three for three in the win. Matt Radoslovich recorded the lone Mallards tally in the win. The Mallards outplayed the Wings in the opening frame and outshot Kalamazoo 11-4. Unfortunately, for the 3,401 fans at The MARK, the Mallards didn't score and the period ended with the game scoreless. The Wings used their power play to seize control of the game in the second period. Jason Deitsch scored at 6:28 of the middle period to extend his scoring streak to 13 games. Damian Surma added a power-play marker, the eventual game winner, 4:01 later, and the Wings held a 2-0 lead after two periods. In the third, Lukas Drake continued Kalamazoo's power-play perfection by tipping home a Daniel Carriere point shot to put the Wings up 3-0. With 5:01 left in the game, Radoslovich netted the only Mallards goal of the night on a man advantage. It was the 16th tally of the year for the rookie and moved him into second on the Mallards roster in goal scoring. Radoslovich's goal ignited a brief Mallards comeback attempt. The Wings quickly turned momentum the other way on a goal by Tyler Willis at 18:03 of the third. Damian Surma added another marker with 33 seconds left to seal the win for the Wings.

Saturday, February 25th-Quad City 1 at Rockford 3

A gritty Mallards effort came up short as Rockford's Yannick Tifu scored twice in the third to give the Hogs a 3-1 win over Quad City on Saturday night in Rockford. Mallards captain Patrick Nadeau recorded the lone Mallards goal. Terry Friesen made 41 saves in the loss. In the first, Quad City fell behind 1-0 despite excellent play from Friesen. He stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced in the opening period. Jason Ralph scored the lone Hogs goal of the period on a goal mouth scramble at 4:02 of the period. In the second, the Mallards evened the game on a Patrick Nadeau goal with 4:59 left in the period. Nadeau scored by tipping home a Tom Clayton pass on the edge of the Rockford crease. It was the 16th tally of the year for the Mallards captain. Tifu scored twice in the third to secure the Hogs win. Tifu's first tally came at even strength with 4:28 left in the game. He added a power-play goal to secure the win with 2:15 left.

Sunday, February 26th-Missouri 3 at Quad City 2 - Shootout

The Mallards fell to 25-23-7 on the year following a heartbreaking shootout defeat to Missouri on Sunday afternoon at The MARK. Quad City outshot Missouri 47-25 while establishing a new season high for shots on goal. Chad Woollard recorded both regulation goals including a tally with six seconds left to force the shootout. After a 20 round shootout, the second longest in UHL history, the Otters down the Mallards 3-2. In the first, the teams skated scoreless while the Mallards controlled play. Quad City took 20 shots vs. just four for the Otters. In the second, a Chad Woollard power-play goal staked the Mallards to a 1-0 lead. It was Woollard's 30th goal of the year. The Otters answered back on a Jim Duhart power-play tally to even the game at one after two periods. With just 2:18 left in the third, Brad MacMillan scored an unassisted goal to give the Otters a 2-1 lead. With time growing short, Mallards Coach Brian Curran pulled Jason Tapp in favor of an extra attacker. The Mallards used the extra attacker to net the equalizer with just six seconds left. Woollard powered home a J.J. Wrobel pass to tie the game and force the shootout. In the shootout, Patrick Nadeau scored in the bottom of the first round for the Mallards. Jim Duhart followed with a Missouri tally in the top of the second round. The shootout remained knotted at one through the 10th round. In the tenth the teams exchanged goals (Tyler Butler for Missouri and Jesse Rycroft for Quad City). After nine more scoreless shootout rounds, Brad MacMillan netted a 20th round shootout tally before Kevin Reiter stopped Andrei Lupandin in the bottom of the round to earn the win. It was the second longest shootout in UHL history behind an Elmira-Danbury game last year that required 21 rounds.

Player of the Week

Chad Woollard is the Mallards nominee for UHL Player of the Week. The Durham, Ontario native recorded two goals and an assist for three points in four games last week. His week was highlighted by a two-goal performance on Sunday vs. Missouri.

Goalie of the Week

Terry Friesen is the Mallards nominee for UHL Goaltender of the Week. He stopped all 16 shots he faced in a relief appearance on Wednesday vs. Rockford. On Saturday night, he recorded 41 saves in a 3-1 loss to the Hogs.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 28, 2006


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