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Mallards Weekly Update: October 10, 2016

October 10, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: OCTOBER 10, 2016

THIS WEEK

Friday, October 14, 7:05 p.m.

iWireless Center, Moline

Fort Wayne Komets vs. Quad City Mallards

Saturday, October 15, 6:30 p.m.

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne

Quad City Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets

Quad City

2015-16: 37-29-6, 80 points

2015-16: 3rd place, Midwest Division

2016-17: Central Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Fort Wayne

2015-16: 40-23-9, 89 points

2015-16: 1st place, Midwest Division

2016-17: Central Division

Coach: Gary Graham

QUACK TRACKS

Home-and-Home

The Mallards open their twentieth season and their third in the ECHL with a home-and-home series against the Fort Wayne Komets. The Mallards open on home ice Friday night before travelling to Fort Wayne for Saturday evening's rematch.

20

This season is the Mallards' twentieth. Though the Mallards franchise first took the ice for the 1995-96 campaign, the Quad City Flames played at the iWireless Center in 2008-09 and 2009-10 before the Mallards returned for the 2009-10 season. This season also marks the twentieth anniversary of the Mallards' first championship victory, the 1996-97 Colonial Cup triumph. The Mallards' twentieth season celebrations will be highlighted by an alumni weekend welcoming back past Mallard greats January 13 and 14.

Throwback

Friday night will see the Mallards don jerseys first worn by the team during the inaugural 1995-96 campaign. Those sweaters feature the original forest green, burgundy, black and gold Mallard color scheme and Mallard-head-and-hockey-stick logo.

Winning Habit

The Mallards have posted winning records and qualified for the playoffs in each of their first two ECHL seasons and in each of their first four seasons under coach Terry Ruskowski. The Mallards reached the CHL postseason in Ruskowski's first two years with the club. In all, the Mallards have enjoyed six consecutive winning campaigns. They last finished with a losing record when they went 29-35-4 in 2009-10- their lone International Hockey League campaign.

Return Engagement

Six Mallards currently on the club's roster return from last season's squad: forwards Brady Brassart and Sam Warning; defensemen Kevin Gibson, Alex Gudbranson and Mike Monfredo; and forward/defenseman Kyle Follmer . Monfredo, who had 37 points last season, is the Mallards' top returning point-scorer.

High Five

With the retirement of long-time captain Darren McMillan after last season, Mike Monfredo is now the longest tenured Mallard. Monfredo returns for his fifth season with the club. The 26-year old native of Shirley, New York ranks seventh in team history in games played (273). Monfredo last season finished tied for fourth among ECHL defensemen in assists (31) and tied for tenth among blue liners in points (37). Monfredo set career highs in both categories.

Wild Side

Seven Mallards- Jace Coyle, Chris Francis, C.J. Motte, Jack Nevins, Michael Parks, Andrew Panzarella and Sam Warning- have joined the team after starting training camp with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild on tryout agreements. The trio of Brady Brassart, Pavel Jenys and Alex Gudbranson were assigned to the Mallards by Iowa today. A further quartet of players- Kevin Gibson, Justin Kovacs, Alexander Taulien and Nathan Todd- skated in AHL camp with the Chicago Wolves before joining the Mallards over the weekend. This season will be the Mallards' fourth as an affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the Iowa Wild and the Flock's second as the organization's lone ECHL farm club.

Old Friend

Jace Coyle this weekend is set to oppose the Komets for the first time since playing for Fort Wayne in 2013-14. Coyle signed with the Mallards after spending the last two seasons in Europe.

Between the Pipes

The two goaltenders on the Mallards' roster are new to the team. C.J. Motte went 15-22-2 with a 2.83 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 42 games as a rookie with the Elmira Jackals last season. Rookie Tanner Milliron was named to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team for the second year in a row after going 14-7-5 with a 1.83 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in 26 games as a senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls last season.

Realignment

The Mallards this season have moved to the reconfigured Central Division (while remaining in the Western Conference), joining the Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, Toledo Walleye, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder.

The 27-team ECHL has shifted back to four divisions after one season in a six-division format.

Opening Night

The Mallards last year won their season opener 2-1 over the Americans in Allen. All-time, the Mallards are 10-8-1 in openers.

Home Hazards

The Mallards have suffered regulation defeats in each of their seven home openers since the team returned to the ice in 2009 following the two-year interregnum during which the Quad City Flames competed in the AHL. The Mallards, who were blanked 1-0 by the Rapid City Rush in their first iWireless Center tilt last season, are winless (0-7-1) in their last eight home openers. The Flock last started its home slate with a win on October 21, 2005 while in the United Hockey League when it downed the Motor City Mechanics 4-3 in a shootout.

Drought

The Mallards have been held without a goal in each of their last two home openers. A 1-0 loss to Tulsa on October 23, 2015 in last season's Quad Cities curtain-raiser followed a 3-0 home whitewashing at the hands of the Rapid City Rush on October 24, 2014 in the Mallards' first ECHL game. The Mallards have gone 131:14 of home-opening game time since last producing a goal in their first home contest when Mike Stinziani scored at 8:46 of the third period on October 19, 2013 in a home- and season- opening 6-4 loss to the Rush.

Home Sweet Home

By going 22-12-2 at the iWireless Center last season, the Mallards won more home games than they have in any campaign since they went 22-11-5 in 38 International Hockey League home games (compared to 36 last season) in 2009-10. The Mallards last won more than 22 home games in 2005-06 when they went 23-13-2 in 38 United Hockey League home games.

On the Road

The Mallards went 15-17-4 on the road last season after posting winning away records each of the prior two campaigns. Last season's mark was the Mallards' worst away record since they went 14-16-3 in 2012-13.

Red Light District

The Mallards last season both scored and allowed 203 goals, an average of 2.82 per game. The Mallards last year ranked twelfth in the league in goals scored and finished tied for eighteenth in goals against.

Special Teams

The Mallards last season finished tied for sixth in the ECHL in penalty killing (85.3 percent) and led the league in penalty killing on the road (87.5 percent). They finished eighteenth in power play efficiency (16.5 percent) last year. Only two teams last season allowed fewer shorthanded goals that the Mallards, who surrendered four.

Head to Head

This weekend's home-and-home kicks off a 12-game season series between the Mallards and Komets. The Mallards will face Fort Wayne more often than they collide with any other foe. The Mallards went 5-2-0 against the Komets last season: 2-1-0 at home and 3-1-0 in Fort Wayne. All-time, the Mallards have gone 50-49-11 against Fort Wayne. The ECHL is the fourth different league in which the two teams have clashed. They previously competed against each other in the United, International and Central Leagues.

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, October 14, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets

Mallards Opening Night presented by Stoney Creek Inn

The Mallards' twentieth opening night will be packed with action both on and off the ice.

$2 Dog/$2 Beer Friday presented by 97X

Fans this season can enjoy $2 hot dogs and $2 beers from iWireless Center concession stands during all Friday home games.

Schedule Poster Giveaway presented by Stoney Creek Inn

The first 1,000 fans to arrive at that game will receive free Mallards 2016-17 schedule posters.

Opening Night Fireworks

A fireworks display outside the iWireless Center will follow the Mallards' season opener.

MetroLINK College Night

The Mallards have once again partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during all Friday home games. As part of Metro's unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.

Postgame Party at Blackwater Jack's Saloon

After the opener, fans can head to Blackwater Jack's Saloon at Stoney Creek Inn in downtown Moline for a postgame party at which the Mallards Ice Girls will be among the guests.

Gigi's Playhouse Benefit

The opener will also be the first of a series of games that will benefit Quad Cities area non-profit organizations. The opening night beneficiary will be Gigi's Playhouse, a one-of-a-kind achievement center for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. A portion of the proceeds from tickets for the opener purchased at the Mallards' business office or at Gigi's Playhouse in Moline will be donated to the Playhouse.

ON THE AIR

Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance. Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net . A limited number of Mallards games- including Friday night's opener against Fort Wayne- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football. ECHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts and free audio webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.net.

MOBILE

The Mallards' official mobile app is now available free for both Apple and Android. The app features a wide array of exclusive content, including behind the scenes video, breaking news and scoring alerts, interviews and video messages from coach Terry Ruskowski and Mallards players, instant access to live scores, stats and standings and special offers from the team and from Mallards partners.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.net for more information about tickets. Single game tickets are also available at the iWireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box 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.

Season Tickets

Mallards 2016-17 season tickets are still available. Season ticket holders enjoy significant savings off the walk-up ticket price and receive a host of exclusive benefits. For more season ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.net .

Group Tickets

Groups of ten or more receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of group benefits. Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events. For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.net.



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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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