Mallards Weekly Update

December 15, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Rebound

The Mallards snapped a three game losing streak by defeating the Generals Sunday. With that win the Mallards moved into a tie with Flint for sixth place in the IHL. The Flock, which has played four fewer games than the Generals, has a better winning percentage (.395) than Flint (.326).

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards' five game regulation home unbeaten streak was halted with last Friday's loss to Dayton. After bouncing back with Sunday's win over Flint at the i wireless Center, the Flock is now 4-1-1-1 in its last seven home tilts.

Red Light District

In last Friday's 7-5 loss to Dayton the Mallards set a team season high for goals allowed in one game and matched a club season high for most goals scored in one game. The Flock ranks sixth in the league in goals scored (2.5 per game) and seventh in goals allowed (3.4).

Isn't That Special (Teams)?

The Mallards have gone 7-for-25 on the power play over their last six games and have scored on the power play 11 times in their last 11 games (on 50 power play opportunities). For the season the Flock has improved to 14.8 percent on the man advantage and now ranks sixth in the league. Quad City killed off all nine of its opponents' power plays over its last two games and has survived 13 of its opponents' last 14 man advantages. On the season the Mallards are still seventh in the league in penalty killing (77.6 percent)

Stop Sign

Patrick Levesque's eight-game point scoring streak (5-6-11) ended Sunday against Flint. Levesque's is the longest point streak put together by a Mallard this season. Levesque (7-10-17) leads the Mallards in points and assists and is tied with Mike Zbriger (7-8-15) for the team lead in goals.

Welcome Back

Terry Harrison (6-9-15) returned to the lineup last Friday after missing five games with an upper body injury and scored one goal and added two assists in the loss to Dayton.

Dynamic Debut

Jerad Kauffman made 33 saves to earn the win in his Mallards debut Sunday. Kauffman stopped 17 Flint shots in the third period alone and kept the Generals off the scoreboard for the first 52:59 of the contest.

Jonesing

Goaltender Kyle Jones started six straight games and 11 of the Mallards' prior 13 contests before sitting out Sunday.

Chris Chringle

Chris Lipsett (6-5-11) scored in the Mallards' games last Friday and Saturday and has now produced eight points (five goals, three assists) in his last eight games.

Making A Mark

Mark Rechlicz recorded his first career point Sunday by assisting on Obi Aduba's second period goal.

Ins and Outs

Kauffman became the fourth goaltender to see game action for the Mallards this season and third to pick up a win when he made his debut Sunday...Harrison played in all three games over the weekend for the Mallards after suffering an upper body injury November 21 in Port Huron and missing five contests...Defenseman Matt Burke has been on injured reserve since suffering a broken ankle November 8 in Flint.

SCOUTING REPORT

Bloomington

The PrairieThunder won the first two games of a six-game homestand last weekend, defeating Flint 3-1 on Friday night before following up with Saturday night's victory over Quad City. The Thunder had lost its prior three games and gone winless in its previous four games (0-3-1-0) before last weekend...Bloomington is now tied with Dayton and Fort Wayne for third place in the IHL. The PrairieThunder and Komets both have three games in hand on Dayton... Craig MacDonald (14-14-28) ranks second in the league in goals, ranks fourth in points and is tied for sixth in assists...Jon Booras (8-12-20) ranks sixth in points. Bill Bagron (9-9-18) is tied for sixth in goals...Andrew Martin (5-3-1-2, 2.54, .914) has split goaltending duties with Paulo Colaiacovo (6-4-0-0, 3.28, .894)...Bloomington boasts the league's best power play (21.5 percent)...The Prairie Thunder averages 3.2 goals per game- second most in the league- and gives up 3.1 goals per game- also second most in the IHL...Bloomington also leads the league in penalty minutes (29.7 per game). Individually, Robin Gomez (114) and Justin Sawyer (100) rank 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 2-3-0-0 against Bloomington this season.

Fort Wayne

The Komets last week dropped a pair of games to the Port Huron Icehawks. This marks just the second time this season Fort Wayne has suffered back-to-back regulation defeats...The Komets have won just one of their last five games (1-3-0-1) and have gone 5-6-0-1 in their last 12 outings after starting the season 7-2-0-0...Saturday night in Port Huron the Komets were shut out for the second time in four games...With fellow netminder Nick Boucher out of the lineup due to injury, Tim Haun has made 15 straight starts for the Komets. On the season Haun (9-7-0-1, 2.44, .907) is tied for league lead in wins, ranks fourth in goals against average and ranks fifth in save percentage... The Komets ranks second in fewest goals against (2.4 per game) and in penalty killing (84.9 percent)...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 off 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...The Mallards have gone 1-2-0-1 against Fort Wayne this season.

Flint

The Generals lost back-to-back games last weekend and are winless in their last three games (0-2-1) after winning each of their prior three...Jamie Schaafsma (9-10-19) ranks seventh in the league in point scoring...John Mori (8-7-15) leads IHL rookies in goals and ranks third among rookies in points...Rookie Rob Nolan (3-8-1-0, 2.27, 931) leads the league in save percentage and ranks third in goals against average...The Generals score a league-low average of 2.4 goals per game and also rank last on the power play (14.4 percent)...Flint last week waived veteran goaltender Jean Francois Labbe (3-6-0-2, 3.57, .895)...forwards Bryan Smolinski- a veteran of 1,056 National Hockey League games- Pascal Rheaume and Tony Tuzzolini all have NHL experience...Like the Mallards, the Generals face a busy week. Flint visits Port Huron tonight before hosting the Icehawks Friday evening and travelling to Dayton Saturday night...Jason 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 2-2-0-0 against the Generals this season.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Saturday, December 19, 7:00 p.m.- Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets

Webkinz Giveaway

The first 500 fans ages 12-and-under through the doors for Saturday night's game receive free webkinz plush collectibles. Webkinz are hugely popular plush pets that each come with a unique code that Webkinz owners use to care for their virtual pet online.

Tuesday, December 22, 7:00 p.m.- Mallards vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks

$2 12-ounce Drafts

Fans can purchase $2 12-ounce drafts at i wireless Center concession during next Tuesday's game against Muskegon.

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.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 15, 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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