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Mallards Weekly Update

December 28, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Back on Quack

The Mallards yesterday snapped a six-game winless streak (0-4-2-0) by defeating Bloomington 3-1. The drought was the Mallards' second longest of the season. Quad City went seven games without a win from October 24 through November 14. Yesterday's victory was the Mallards' first since a 2-1 win over Flint on December 13.

Jonesing Kyle Jones yesterday made 32 saves to snap a personal five-game losing streak. Jones came within 4:46 of the first shutout of his professional career before Cole Ruwe scored the lone Bloomington goal late in the third period.

Blanked

The Mallards last Saturday night were shut out for the first time this season by Andrew Martin and the PrairieThunder despite outshooting Bloomington 33-27.

Streaking Patrick Levesque (12-14-26) has scored four goals and picked up three assists in his last four games. After notching a goal and an assist yesterday, Levesque has collected at least two points in three of his last four tilts. He has gone for twenty points (ten goals, ten assists) in his last 16 games to move into a tie for fifth in the league in goals and a tie for ninth in points.

Streaking, Take 2 Mike Zbriger (10-11-21) also produced a goal and an assist yesterday and has now recorded three goals and three assists in his last four games. Between them, Zbriger and Levesque have accounted for four of Quad City's last five goals- both scored yesterday and both also scored in last Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Muskegon. The duo has also provided seven of the Mallards' last ten goals- Levesque scored twice and Zbriger once in last Sunday's 6-5 overtime loss in Flint.

Isn't That Special (Teams)?

Levesque's empty net power play goal in the final seconds of yesterday's game ended the Mallards' 0-for-11 power play drought. Quad City ranks seventh in the league on the power play (13.8 percent). The Mallards also rank last in penalty killing (77.0 percent).

Business Picks Up The Mallards are in the midst of a stretch that will see them close out the calendar year with five games in six nights. By the time they ring in the New Year, the Mallards will have played 13 times in 21 days.

Welcome Back

Inclement winter weather caused flight delays that prevented Brandon Marino (3-5-8) from returning from the IHL's Christmas break in time for last Saturday night's game in Bloomington; when Marino did take to the ice with the Mallards yesterday against the PrairieThunder, his return proved a welcome one- Marino scored the game winning goal late in the second period.

Ins and Outs

Defensemen Jason Goulet (upper body injury) and Jacques Perreault (upper body injury) both returned to the Mallards lineup last Saturday. Goulet had missed the Mallards' prior three games; Perreault was forced to sit out the team's final game before Christmas last Tuesday against Muskegon...Shaun Fisher (upper body injury) has missed the Mallards' last four games... Defenseman Matt Burke has been on injured reserve since suffering a broken ankle November 8 in Flint.

SCOUTING REPORT

Port Huron With a 6-2 win over Dayton yesterday the Icehawks moved into a tie with idle Muskegon for first place in the IHL...Port Huron has won three straight games and nine of its last ten...Port Huron boasts the league's best home record (12-2-0-0) and has won seven straight on home ice...The Icehawks lead the league in fewest goals against per game (2.5)...Port Huron also leads the IHL in penalty killing (90.1 percent) and has given up just 12 power goals- no other team has allowed fewer than 23...The Icehawks rank second on the power play (20.5 percent)...Larry Sterling (11-3-0-0, 2.20, .925) leads IHL goaltenders in goals against average and ranks second in wins and save percentage...After recording a hat trick and an assist yesterday against the Gems, Mikael Bedard (15-15-30) is now tied for second in the league in goals and ranks fifth in points. Bedard leads rookies in goals, assists and points...Nick Lindberg (4-23-27) ranks third in assists and eighth in points, just ahead of Derek Patrosso (12-14-26)...Mike Kinnie (13-5-18) ranks fourth in goals; Patrosso is tied for fifth...Daniel Tetrault (5-16-21) leads defensemen in points and assists and is tied for the lead among blue liners in goals... 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...The Mallards have split a pair of meetings with the Icehawks this season.

Flint

The Generals have posted a winning record in their last twelve games- 6-5-1-0- after winning just three of their first 17 games (3-12-0-2)...Rookie Rob Nolan (7-8-1, 2.30, .929) made 22 saves on the way to his first career shutout as the Generals blanked Dayton 3-0 last Saturday. Nolan leads the league in save percentage and ranks second in goals against average... ...Jamie Schaafsma (11-13-24)- who leads the Generals in points- and John Ronan (11-6-17) are tied for ninth in the league in goals... John Mori (10-9-19) ranks second among rookies in goals and is tied for second among rookies in points...The Generals rank above only the Mallards in goal scoring (2.6 per game) and power play efficiency (14.8)...forwards Bryan Smolinski- a veteran of 1,056 National Hockey League games- Pascal Rheaume and Tony Tuzzolini all have NHL experience...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 and New York Rangers. Muzzatti also played for Italy at the 2006 Winter Olympics...The Mallards have gone 2-2-1-0 against the Generals this season.

Muskegon

A 7-2 loss to Fort Wayne last Saturday night ended the Lumberjacks' four game winning streak...The Lumberjacks have gone 16-3-0-2 in their last 21 games after starting the season 3-3-0-1...Muskegon has the league's best road record (7-2-0-3), has won four straight away from home and is unbeaten in regulation in ten road games (7-0-0-3) since dropping its first two road tilts...Muskegon's Robin Bouchard (22-24-46), Todd Robinson (12-31-43) and John DiPace (10-22-32) are the top three point producers in the IHL (the injured DiPace is tied for third with Bloomington's Craig MacDonald). Bouchard leads the league in goals and ranks second in assists. Robinson leads the IHL in assists and is tied for fifth in goals. DiPace is tied for fourth in assists... 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 1032 points in a Muskegon uniform...Sebastien Centomo (12-5-0-2, 2.36, .914) leads the IHL in wins, ranks third in goals against average and ranks fifth in save percentage... Muskegon scores more goals (3.4 per game) than any other team in the league. The Jacks also rank second defensively, giving up 2.6 per contest...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 Mallards have gone 0-2-2-0 against the Lumberjacks.

Bloomington

Yesterday's loss was just the second in seven games for the PrairieThunder ... MacDonald (15-17-32) is not only tied for third in points but is also tied for second in the league in goals and ranks eighth in assists. MacDonald has recorded 11 points (six goals, five assists) in eight games against the Mallards...Jon Booras (10-18-28) is tied for sixth in the league in points and tied with MacDonald for the lead in season series point production (3-8-11). Bill Bagron (12-12-24) is tied for fifth in goals...Andrew Martin (8-4-1-2, 2.46, .915) ranks fourth in goals against average and has won five of his last six starts... Bloomington boasts the league's best power play (21.4 percent)... Bloomington also leads the league in penalty minutes (27.2 per game). Individually, Justin Sawyer (116) and Robin Gomez (114) 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 NHL 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 3-5-0-0 against Bloomington this season.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Thursday, December 31, 6:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks

British New Year Celebration, Mallards Baseball Cap Giveaway As the Mallards' New Year's Eve Game game will start just after midnight London time, the Mallards will ring in the New Year in British style Thursday evening. While the evening will carry that English flavor as the Flock puts on the Quad Cities' only British New Years' celebration, one element of Thursday night's festivities will remain all-American as the team will provide free Mallards baseball caps to the first 1,000 fans through the doors.

Saturday, January 2, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Bloomington PrairieThunder Mallards Water Bottle Giveaway

The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive free Mallards water bottles as the Mallards battle the PrairieThunder.

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 Power Sports Performance 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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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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