Mallards Weekly Update

Published on October 14, 2013 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Picking Up Where They Left Off?

The Mallards will hope to start this campaign as successfully as they finished last season. The Mallards went 11-2-0 in the final thirteen games of the 2012-13 regular season. Last year also saw the Mallards return to the postseason after missing out in 2011-12, though they were eliminated in the opening round by the Fort Worth Brahmas in five hard-fought games.

Cold Open

The Mallards will open their second season under coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski Saturday night without having played a preseason game. This season is the Mallards' fourth in the Central Hockey League and their fifth (including one spent in the International Hockey League) since re-launching after a two-year absence. Since returning for the 2009-10 season, the Mallards have gone 2-2-0 in season openers and 0-4-0 in home openers. The Mallards last won a home opener on October 22, 2005, when, while competing in the United Hockey League, they defeated the Motor City Mechanics 4-3.

One and Done

The Mallards play just once on opening weekend before returning to action next Saturday, October 26 on home ice against the expansion St. Charles Chill. One day later the Mallards will play their first road game of the season in St. Charles.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards play six of their first seven games at home. The Mallards last season went 20-10-3 at home and 14-16-3 on the road. The Mallards won their final eight home games of the 2012-13 regular season and have not lost a regular season tilt at the iWireless Center since falling to Rapid City 3-2 on February 19.

Welcome Back

Defenseman Darren McMillan returns for a fifth season with the Mallards and his fourth as team captain. Should he, as expected, take the ice this Saturday, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native will become the only player who has skated for the team in each of the five seasons since the Mallards returned to the ice (after the Quad City Flames competed in the American Hockey League in 2007-08 and 2008-09) for the 2009-10 season. McMillan, 33, has played in 196 of the Mallards' 198 regular season games over the last three campaigns. McMillan enters his ninth professional season 34 games shy of 500 career games played. McMillan is, along with Mike Stinziani, Matt Boyd, Matt Duffy and Mike Monfredo, one of five returnees on the Mallard roster.

Between the Pipes

The Mallards' two goaltenders are new to the team this season. Rookie Ty Rimmer took part in the Edmonton Oilers' National Hockey League training camp last month and was assigned to the Mallards' by the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons. Rimmer turns professional after three-plus standout seasons in the major junior Western Hockey League. Thomas Heemskerk, now in his third season, spent the bulk of last year with the ECHL's San Francisco Bulls with time out for a pair of games in the AHL with the Worcester Sharks. Before turning pro with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHLin 2011-12, Heemskerk, like Rimmer, competed with distinction in the WHL.

Top Dog

Stinziani is the Mallards' top returning scorer. He finished last season second among Central Hockey League rookies in goals (26), tied for second among first year players in points (51) and fourth among rookies in assists (25). The 24-year old Montreal native completed his first professional campaign on a high note by being named CHL Second Star for the month of March after scoring seven goals and totaling 12 points in 13 games.

Euro Trip

The Mallards have added a pair of European born and bred players in forward Gargo Nagy and defenseman BenjaminDieude-Fauvel. Hungarian Nagy embarks upon his first North American season after previously playing in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. Frenchman Dieude-Fauvel is entering his fifth season in the United States after two-year stints with the Laredo Bucks (CHL) and Elmira Jackals (ECHL). In addition, Vladimir Nikiforov, who played in Russia for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl last season, was born in Lithuania before moving to the U.S. as a seven-year old. Canadian-born Tyler Melancon has also returned North America with the Mallards after a Euro trip. Melancon spent the last two years with Herentals HYC, a Belgian club that competes in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Reunited

Mallards newcomers Dieude-Fauvel and Nicholas Rioux both played for Ruskowski earlier in their careers. Dieude-Fauvel skated for Ruskowski's Laredo Bucks in 2009-10 and 2010-11 while Rioux played for Ruskwoski and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in 2011-12.

Former Foes

Both Vladimir Nikiforov (2011-12) and Rioux (2012-13) played against the Mallards for the Bloomington Blaze before joining the Flock this season. Jeff Lee opposed the Mallards while skating for the Rapid City Rush last season and is now set to make his Mallard debut against the Rush Saturday night. Jim McKenzie signed with the Mallards last week after competing against them for the Allen Americans in one game during the 2011-12 campaign.

Familiar Faces

Former Mallards Jared Brown, Eric Giosa and Bob Preece all now play for the Rush. Giosa and Preece are both new to the Rush. Giosa suited up for the Mallards in 2010-11 and 2011-12 while Preece spent the last three seasons in the Quad Cities. Brown is beginning his second season in Rapid City after breaking into professional hockey with the Mallards at the tail end of the 2010-11 season and playing all of the following campaign for the Flock.

Special Teams

The Mallards last season led the CHL in shorthanded goals (15), ranked fourth in penalty killing (83.8 percent) and finished fifth in power play efficiency (83.8 percent).

Milestones

McKenzie has recorded 149 career points...Duffy has notched 92 career points...Gabriel Levesque has played 91 career games...McMillan has collected 91 career CHL assists...Rioux has registered 48 career points.

Head-to-Head

The Mallards went 3-2-1 in six games against Rapid City last season and went 1-1-1 against the Rush on home ice. All-time, the Mallards have gone 9-6-1 against Rapid City.

Ins and Outs

The Mallards today re-signed defenseman Mike Monfredo...The Mallards Sunday waived forwards Rob Dongara, Stephen Genua, John Heffernan and Tony Rizzi and defensemen Matt Carlson and Mike Grace.

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, October 19, 7:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. Rapid City Rush

Pre-Game Fan Fest

The Mallards will kick off the 2013-14 season with a pregame Fan Fest outside the iWireless Center from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Fan Fest will feature live music- including plenty of classic covers- from the Loan Sharks, food and beverage stands, a beer tent, the arrival of the Mallards' new Ice Girls and Mo Mallard, the team's perennially popular mascot. In addition, Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski will stop by to deliver his season-opening welcome to fans on hand. There will also be ample entertainment for younger fans, including a bounce house and a petting zoo.

Post-Game Party

Opening night festivities will continue after the Mallards' match-up with Rapid City with a post-game party at Rascals. Mallards players will join fans at Rascals, which is located at 1414 15th Street in Moline.

$44 Four-Pack

Fans can enjoy savings off the regular ticket price by purchasing a four-pack of lower level seats for opening night for just $44. $44 four-packs can be purchased in person at the iWireless Center box office or by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364.

ON THE AIR

Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of the Mallards. Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net. A limited number of Mallards games- including this Saturday's- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football. Free audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com. CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com for more information about both season and single game tickets. Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box office is open weekdays 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 from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Group Tickets

Groups of at least ten can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great group benefits. Mallards 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 or info@myqcmallards.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2013


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