Mallards Weekly Update

Published on December 9, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Stop Sign

Last Saturday's loss in Muskegon ended the Mallards' three game winning streak and five-game regulation unbeaten streak (3-0-1-1). The three game winning streak was the Mallards longest- and first- this season. Saturday's setback was the Mallards' first regulation defeat since a 3-1 loss November 20 at Port Huron.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards are also unbeaten in regulation (3-0-1-1) in their last five home games. Quad City has not lost in regulation at home in over a month since falling to Flint 3-2 on October 30.

Red Light District

The Mallards allowed six goals last Saturday, matching a season high. The Mallards themselves have scored three goals or fewer in 14 of their first 16 games. The Flock ranks seventh in the league in both goals scored (2.4 goals per game) and goals allowed (3.4).

Powering Up

The Mallards have gone 4-for-11 on the power play over their last three games and have scored on the power play eight times in their last eight games (on 36 power play opportunities). For the season the Flock has improved to 13.5 percent on the man advantage.

Streaking

Patrick Levesque (7-7-14) is in the midst of a six-game point scoring streak (5-3-8) and has now taken over the team lead in points and moved into a tie with Mike Zbriger (7-6-13) for the top spot on the club in goal scoring. Levesque has now matched the longest point scoring streak put together by a Mallards this season. Levesque has scored four goals in just his last three times. He has scored five times in his last six outings after going his prior six games without a goal and producing just two goals in his first ten games.

No Stal-ing

Juris Stals (3-7-10) has collected five points (1-4-5) in just his last three games. Stals has totaled nine points in his last nine games after producing just a single point- a goal- in his first five games.

Jonesing

Goaltender Kyle Jones last Saturday saw his personal three game winning streak and five game regulation unbeaten streak (4-0-1-0) halted by Muskegon. Jones has started four straight games and nine of the Mallards' last 11 contests.

Ins and Outs

The Mallards earlier this week signed goaltender Jerad Kaufmann, a rookie who played college hockey at Nebraska-Omaha...The Flock also waived netminder D.J. Delbuono. Delbuono saw his first game action for Quad City in the third period of last Saturday night's game in Muskegon, stopping both shots he faced in a seven minute appearance...Forward Harrison has missed five games after suffering an upper body injury November 21 night in Port Huron...Defenseman Matt Burke has been on injured reserve since suffering a broken ankle November 8 in Flint.

SCOUTING REPORT

Dayton

Dayton split a pair of home games last weekend. The Gems blanked Fort Wayne 3-0 last Friday. One night later Dayton fell to Port Huron 7-4....Last Saturday's loss ended the Gems' season-best three-game winning streak...The seven goals surrendered by the Dayton last Saturday are a team season high...Goaltender Derek MacIntyre gave up six of those Port Huron goals after turning in back-to-back shutouts in the Gems' prior two games. MacIntyre had gone a total of 153:53 without surrendering a goal before allowing one to Brandon Naurato at 2:02 of the second period last Saturday night...The Gems are in fourth place in the IHL- two points behind second place Port Huron and Fort Wayne and two points ahead of fifth place Bloomington. Port Huron, Fort Wayne and Bloomington all have three games in hand on Dayton...Jonathon Ornelas (5-10-15) leads the Gems in points and assists. John Snowden (8-5-13) is Dayton's top goal scorer...The Gems (15.5 minutes per game) and Mallards (18.1) are the two least penalized teams in the league...In 20 years as a head coach Dayton's John Marks has won two ECHL titles and one Southern Professional Hockey League championship. As a player Marks skated in 657 National Hockey League games with the Chicago Black Hawks from 1972 through 1982...Friday's game will be the first ever meeting between the Mallards and Gems. Quad City and Dayton are the only two IHL clubs not to have met each other yet this season.

Bloomington

With a 5-2 loss last Friday in Flint, the PrairieThunder saw its losing streak stretch to three games and its regulation winless streak to four games (0-3-1-0). Bloomington has won just one of its last six games (1-4-1) after going 8-3-0-2 over its first 13 games...Craig MacDonald (12-13-25) ranks third in the league in goals, ranks fourth in points and is tied for seventh in points...

Jon Booras (8-11-19) is tied for fifth in points. Bill Bagron (9-7-16) is tied for sixth in goals...Forward Ryan Finnerty (4-10-14) earlier this week departed Bloomington to sign with the Cardiff Devils of the British Elite League...Andrew Martin (3-3-1-2, 2.86, .905) has split goaltending duties with Paulo Colaiacovo (6-4-0-0, 3.28, .894)...Bloomington boasts the league's best power play (22.7 percent)...the Prairie Thunder averages 3.3 goals per game- second most in the league and gives up 3.3 goals per game- also second most in the IHL...Bloomington also leads the league in penalty minutes (30.7 per game). Individually, Robin Gomez (109) and Justin Sawyer (86) ranks second and third in penalty minutes...Jarrod Skalde is in his second season behind the Bloomington bench. The former centerman wrapped up a 17-year professional playing career that saw him skate in 115 National Hockey League games with the New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Philadelphia Flyers by suiting up for ten games with the PrairieThunder in 2007-08...The Mallards have gone 2-2-0-0 against Bloomington this season.

Flint

The Generals are unbeaten in regulation in their last four games. A 3-2 overtime loss Sunday in Fort Wayne ended Flint's three game winning streak...The Generals have gone 3-0-1-0 in their last four outings after losing their prior six...The Generals are two points ahead of the Mallards in the IHL standings but have played five more games than Quad City...Jamie Schaafsma (9-10-19) is tied for fifth in the league in point scoring...John Mori (8-7-15) was named IHL Rookie of the Week after piling up three points (1-2-3) last Friday in a 4-2 win over Bloomington. Mori, who was also named Rookie of the Month for November, leads first year players in goals and is tied for second in points...Rookie Rob Nolan (3-6-1, 2.31, 930) leads the league in save percentage and ranks second in goals against average...Forward Brian Smolinski, a veteran of 1,056 NHL games who scored 274 goals and produced 651 points for the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens, has provided three goals and four assists in a dozen games since joining Flint last month... Like Smolinski, forwards Pascal Rheaume and Tony Tuzzolini and goaltender J.F. Labbe all also have NHL experience... Muzzatti took over the head coaching reins in Flint this season after serving as an assistant with the Generals last year. Muzzatti, a goaltender, spent 2007-08- his sixteenth and final season as a professional player- in the Generals' net. The former Michigan State star played in the NHL for the Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers. Muzzatti also played for Italy at the 2006 Winter Olympics...The Mallards have gone 1-2-0-0 against the Generals this season.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Friday, December 11, 7:00 p.m.- Mallards vs. Dayton Gems

Stadium Scarf Night

Just in time for the onset of winter, the first 1,000 fans through the gates for the Mallards matchup with Dayton will receive free Mallards stadium scarves.

Sunday, December 13, 4:00 p.m.- Mallards vs. Flint Generals

Toys for Tots Teddy Bear Toss; Family Skate; $1.50 Hot Dogs

Just in time for Christmas, the Mallards will team up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program for a Teddy Bear Toss Sunday- fans attending Sunday's game are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to the game and toss it onto the ice after the Mallards score their first goal of the contest. Teddy bears will be donated to needy children in the Quad Cities. In addition, $1.50 hot dogs will be available at i wireless Center concession stands during Sunday's game. Sunday is also a Family Skate Night- fans are encouraged to bring their skates and join the Mallards on the ice after the game.

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 December 9, 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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