Mallards Weekly Update

Published on November 18, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Flock Takes Flight

The Mallards defeated Bloomington in a shootout 4-3 Sunday to snap a seven game (0-6-1) winless streak and a three game regulation losing streak. Sunday's win was also the Mallards' first in 29 days since the Flock scored a 3-1 opening night victory over the Generals in Flint on October 17.

Home Sweet Home

Sunday's win was the Mallards first of the season at home. The Flock went 0-2-1 in its first three home games. The victory was also the first regular season win for the Mallards at the i wireless Center since their United Hockey League predecessors downed Muskegon 4-2 in Moline on April 1, 2007.

Business Picks Up

Starting Friday night in Port Huron the Mallards will play three games in three nights for the second time in as many weekends. The Mallards will play three in three a total of ten times this season.

Port of Call

Friday's matchup is also the first meeting of the season between Port Huron and Quad City. The Mallards went 7-3-0-2 against the then Port Huron Flags in 2006-07, the Flock's final UHL season.

Red Light District

The Mallards were credited with a fourth goal for winning the shootout after overtime ended with the score tied 3-3 on Sunday- the first time Quad City has officially scored more than three goals in a game this season. On the year the Mallards score 2.3 goals per game- second fewest in the league- and give up 3.7 per contest- most in the league.

Powering Up

A.J. Bozoian scored the Mallards' third power play goal of the season in the third period of Sunday's game. That goal also ended a 0-for-21 drought on the man advantage for Quad City. The Mallards are 3-for-44 on the power play on the season and at 6.8 percent rank last on the power play in the league. Quad City ranks sixth on the penalty kill (79.6 percent).

Streakers

Terry Harrison (4-5-9) and Mike Zbriger (4-4-8) are both riding six game point scoring streaks. On the season, Harrison (5-6-11) and Zbriger (5-4-9) are tied for ninth in the league in goals. Harrison, Zbriger and Patrick Levesque (2-4-6)- who have frequently been linemates this season- have combined to produce 12 of the 21 goals scored by the Mallards this season.

Flock Firsts

Kyryll Katrych recorded his first Quad City point- an assist- while making his regular season Mallards debut last Friday in Fort Wayne against the Komets. One night later Ryan Fultz scored his first Mallard goal in Bloomington against the PrairieThunder.

Flock Firsts, Take 2

Bozoian's goal against the Thunder on Sunday was his first with the Mallards. Kyle Jones made 37 saves while posting his first win as a Mallard Sunday.

Working Overtime

Sunday marked the Mallards' first trip to the shootout this season. It was the Flock's first shootout since a 5-4 United Hockey League loss to Flint on Friday, April 6, 2007.

Connections

In 16 games with the Komets last year, goaltender Sebastien Laplante went 10-2-2-1 with a 3.13 goals against average, a .891 save percentage and one shutout...Bozoian played for Fort Wayne in the UHL in both 2005-06 (3-5-8) and 2006-07 (3-11-14)

Ins and Outs

The Mallards last week signed forwards Fultz and Marc Rechlicz and defensemen Bozoian and Katrych and released forwards Derek Armstrong and Travis Granbois and defenseman Jay Holladay... Defenseman Matt Burke has been out of the lineup since suffering a broken ankle November 8 in Flint.

SCOUTING REPORT

Port Huron

The Icehawks fell 5-3 in Muskegon this morning after sweeping a home-and-home series with the Flint Generals last weekend...Mike Kinnie (12-5-17) leads the league in goals and ranks fifth in points...Larry Sterling (4-2-0, 2.67, .907) and Adam Russo (4-2-0, 2.80 .905) have shared the Icehawks' goaltending duties... The Icehawks lead the league in penalty kill percentage (87.3)...Now in his fourth season behind the Port Huron bench, Stan Drulia has led the Icehawks to better than 40

wins each of the last two seasons. As a player, Drulia- a right winger- spent 13 seasons in pro hockey and skated in 126 National Hockey League games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Muskegon

The Lumberjacks have won six straight games and are unbeaten in regulation (6-0-1) in seven games since last losing in regulation October 31 at Fort Wayne...The Lumberjacks average a league best four goals per game and are now the first team in the IHL to have topped 50 goals (52)...The Lumberjacks ranks second in the league on the power play (22.2 percent)...Muskegon's Robin Bouchard (11-13-24), Todd Robinson (7-16-23) and John DiPace (7-15-22) rank one-two-three in the league in both points and assists. Bouchard ranks second in goals; Robinson and DiPace are tied for fifth... Now in his sixteenth pro season- the thirteenth during which he has spent at least some time with Muskegon- Bouchard has recorded a total of 1010 points in a Muskegon uniform...Goaltender Sebastien Centomo (6-3-0-1, 2.59, .911) leads the league in wins and minutes played (603:17). Centomo ranks third in goals against average and is tied for fourth in save percentage... This is the first year of Rich Kromm's second stint as Muskegon coach. Kromm first piloted the Muskegon Fury from 1998-2001. That successful tenure was highlighted by the Fury's 1999 Colonial Cup title. As a player Kromm skated in 372 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and New York Islanders...The Lumberjacks defeated the Mallards 4-3 in overtime in the season series opener between the two teams on November 7 in Moline.

Fort Wayne

Sunday's loss at Muskegon ended Fort Wayne's four game winning streak...the Komets have allowed just four goals in their last three games. Fort Wayne has scored just five times in the same stretch...On the season the Komets are the stingiest team in the league. Fort Wayne allows just 2.3 goals per game...P.C. Drouin (3-7-10) and Colin Chaulk (1-8-9) are the Komets' top two point producers...Tim Haun (4-2-0, 2.14, .911) leads IHL goaltenders in goals against average; Nick Boucher (3-1-0, 2.49, .927) leads in save percentage...41-year old Konstantin Shafranov (2-4-6) just edges 39-year old defenseman Guy Dupuis (1-5-6) for the distinction of being the oldest player on the Fort Wayne roster...veteran Komets Coach Al Sims has piloted Fort Wayne to both the Turner Cup and regular season titles each of the last two years and has now steered the club to the Turner Cup a total of three times. Sims is in the third season of his second stint behind the Komets' bench. He capped of his initial four-year run in Fort Wayne by piloting the Komets to the 1993 Turner Cup. Sims spent one season- 1996-97- as head coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. As a player, Sims, a defenseman, skated in 476 NHL games with Boston, Hartford and Los Angeles...Fort Wayne has won its first two match-ups with the Mallards this season.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Sunday, November 22, 4:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets

Webkinz Giveaway; Family Skate with the Mallards; Post-Game Party at O'Keefe's

The first 1,000 children ages 12-and-under through the doors for the game will receive free Webkinz. Webkinz are hugely popular plush pets that each come with a unique code that Webkinz owners use to care for their virtual pet online.

Sunday is also the Mallards' second Family Skate Night of the season. Fans will be able to lace up their skates and take to the ice with the Mallards following each of those contests. Upon departing the i wireless Center Sunday, Mallards players will head to O'Keefe's Sports Pub & Grub at 1331 5th Avenue in Moline for a post game party.

Wednesday, November 25, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Port Huron Icehawks

Mallards Draw String Back Pack Giveaway presented by Hardee's

The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive Mallards' draw string back packs courtesy of Hardee's.

Saturday, November 28, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Bloomington PrairieThunder

Kids' Bobblehead Night #1

The first 1,000 kids 12-and-under into the game receive free limited edition Chris Lipsett Mallards bobbleheads.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Mallards tickets are available at the i wireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. through the end of the second period.

Group ICExperiences

Mallards group packages are fun, easy to plan and memorable and are a perfect fit for business outings, teams, and school groups, family gatherings and just about any other kind of outing. Groups of ten or more receive a discount off the regular walk-up ticket price and are seated together for all the action. The Mallards offer a wide variety of "Group ICExperiences," including packages that provide the chance to sit on the bench or in the penalty box before a game or ride the Zamboni and much more! The Mallards can also help you use a group outing as a fundraiser for your organization. For group ticket and fundraising information contact the Mallards at 309-277-1364.

ON THE AIR

Fans can listen to all the action of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Sports Medicine this week and throughout the season on 93.9 WYEC-FM and on www.myqcmallards.com. Coverage starts with the Mallards Pre-Game Show Presented by Genesis Sports Medicine 30 minutes before opening faceoff. Live pay-per-view video webcasts of Mallards action is also be available at www.myqcmallards.com courtesy of B2 Networks.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 18, 2009


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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