Mallards Weekly Update

Published on January 17, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

First Place The Mallards have won four straight games and seven of their last eight to move into sole possession of first place in the Central Hockey League's Turner Conference. The Mallards are one point ahead of second place Bloomington and Missouri and two points ahead of fourth place Colorado and Rapid City in the tightly packed conference standings. The Flock (.583) actually ranks behind Colorado (.606), Bloomington (.603) and Missouri (.603) in winning percentage, having played three more games than the Eagles and two more games than the PrairieThunder and Mavericks.

Home Sweet Home The Mallards started a six game homestand with back-to-back wins over the weekend after having dropped their prior two home games.

Close Calls

The Mallards have played and won three straight one-goal games. The Mallards have gone 12-6-0 in one-goal contests this season. The Flock has collected more one-goal victories than any other team in the league. Only the Dayton Gems have played more one-goal games (19) than the Mallards (18).

Comebacks The Mallards came from behind to win both of their games last weekend. The Flock has also come from behind to win five times in its last eight games. On the season, the Mallards have trailed at some point in ten of their 21 victories.

Defensive The Mallards have given up a league-best average of 2.7 goals per game this season.

Who Are Those Masked Men Goaltenders Adam Russo and David Brown both made successful returns to the Mallards' lineup last weekend. Russo made 37 saves in last Friday's win over Rapid City after missing Quad City's prior eight games while on injured reserve due to an upper body injury. Brown returned to the Mallards crease to make 26 saves in last Saturday's win over Dayton after having signed a professional tryout contract with the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros last Friday and served as the Aeros' backup netminder in Houston's game that evening against the Wolves in Chicago. Russo leads the league in save percentage (.932) and ranks second in goals against average (2.38). Brown leads the league in shutouts (3) and ranks third in goals against average (2.54) and save percentage (.923).

Welcome Back Center Mike McLean (13-18-31) returned to the Mallard line-up last Friday night against Rapid City after missing eight games while on injured reserve (lower body injury). McLean scored one goal and assisted on another against the Rush and scored a shorthanded goal one night later against Dayton. He is now tied with Obi Aduba (13-18-31) for the team lead in points and assists. Winger Brandon Marino (3-14-17) returned to the ice last Saturday night after missing eight games while on injured reserve (hand injury).

G-Man Center Eric Giosa (17-12-29) scored his team-leading seventeenth goal- the game winner at 18:32 of the third period- last Friday against Rapid City and has now scored six times and totaled 11 points in his last seven games.

Townie Forward/defenseman Tyler Townsend (4-12-16) enjoyed a four-point weekend. Townsend scored once and added two assists last Friday against Rapid City and scored the winning goal one night later against Dayton. Townsend, who moved up front from his normal spot on defense after the Mallards' forward corps was hit by injuries last month, has scored three goals and totaled seven points in his last seven games.

Special Teams The Mallards have gone 2-for-27 on the power play over their last five games. Quad City ranks fifth in the league in power play efficiency (19.3 percent). The Flock's run of 26 straight successful penalty kills ended when Dayton's Matthew Larke scored on the power play at 17:17 of the second period last Saturday. The Mallards have now given up just one goal on their last 28 penalty kills. Quad City ranks seventh in the league (83.9 percent) in penalty killing.

Ins and Outs Goaltender David Brown returned to the Mallards last Saturday after signing a professional tryout contract with the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros last Friday and joining Houston for the Aeros' game in Chicago against the Wolves Friday evening- Brown did not see any action...Forward Brandon Marino (hand) was activated from injured reserve last Saturday...Goaltender Jerad Kaufmann was placed on 14-day goaltender injured reserved last Saturday (lower body)...Right wing Tyler Shelast (lower body) was moved from 10-day to 30-day injured reserve last Saturday...Goaltender Adam Russo (upper body) and center Mike McLean (lower body) were activated from injured reserved last Friday...Left wing Kevin Jarman was waived last Friday.

Wichita

The Thunder is fresh off a four-game homestand during which it went 3-1-0...Wichita split a pair of games last weekend. The Thunder bounced back from a 4-3 loss to Texas last Friday by defeating Arizona 6-3 the following evening...Wichita's attack, which ranks third in the league (3.8 goals per game) is led by Jesse Bennefield (18-26-44), who is tied for ninth in point scoring... Wichita's A.J. Gale (16-20-36) was named CHL Player of the Month for December...All-Star Matt Robinson has scored 20 goals and totaled 34 points in just 25 games since being acquired from Laredo earlier this season...The Thunder ranks second to last in the league in penalty killing (79.2 percent)...Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas (15-7-1, 2.80, .902) ranks second in the league in wins. Gelinas made 27 saves on December 29 in the Thunder's 2-0 win over the Mallards in the only prior meeting this season between the two clubs.

Colorado The Eagles split a pair of home games with Odessa over the weekend and have gone 11-11-2 in 24 games since starting the season 8-1-0...Colorado's Kevin Ulanski (19-30-49) and Riley Nelson (16-33-49) are tied for fifth in the CHL in points...Former Mallard Kyle Jones (12-5-2, 2.79, .917)- who represented the Eagles at last week's CHL All-Star Game in Rapid City- ranks sixth among CHL netminders in save percentage. Jones made an Eagle season high 47 saves Saturday in a 3-2 shootout win over the Jackalopes...Defenseman Kyle Peto (5-25-30) is tied for the lead among blue liners in assists and is tied for second in points...The Eagles rank second in the league in goal scoring (3.9 per game) and power play efficiency (20.7 percent)...The Eagles face a busy week. Colorado visits Rapid City tomorrow night and plays host to Evansville Wednesday evening before travelling to the Quad Cities for this weekend's two-game set with the Mallards.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Monday, January 17- Mallards vs. Wichita Thunder Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard For tonight's game between the Mallards and Wichita Thunder, fans can purchase upper level tickets for just $5 with a coupon procured through the Quad City Convention and Visitors Bureau and Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard. More information about Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard and coupons can be found at http://www.visitquadcities.com/beatourist/.

Friday, January 21- Mallards vs. Colorado Eagles

Mallards Player Poster Giveaway Presented by Rock 104.9

All fans attending Friday night's game will receive a free poster featuring the Mallards' Mike McLean, Obi Aduba and Tyler Shelast courtesy of Rock 104.9.

Saturday, January 22- Mallards vs. Colorado Eagles

Mallards Replica Adult White Jersey Giveaway Presented by CBS 4 and WLLR

The first 1,000 fans ages 18 and over arriving for the Mallards' game against the Eagles will receive free Mallards replica adult white jerseys.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Tickets for all Mallards regular season home games are available in person at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday 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 other than Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until the end of the first period. On Sundays on which the Mallards play at home the ticket office will be open from 1:00 p.m. until the end of the first period.

Group Tickets Groups of at least ten can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great group benefits when purchasing Mallards tickets. Mallard 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 and tickets@myqcmallards.com.

Mini Plans

Mallard mini plans are also available to meet any budget or schedule. For more information on ticket packages fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364.

ON THE AIR

Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance

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 are also available at www.myqcmallards.com courtesy of CHL-TV.

Between the Pipes

"Between the Pipes," the Mallards' weekly television show, has returned on Mediacom's MC22 channel for the 2010-11 season. New editions of "Between the Pipes" air each Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. and are rebroadcast several times each week. Full weekly listings of "Between the Pipes" broadcast times can be found throughout the season on MC22's website, www.mc22.net. The program features a condensed version of the Mallards' Game of the Week interspersed with interviews with Mallards Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Frank Anzalone and Mallards players, updates on the Mallards' activities in the community and more.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2011


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