
Mallards Weekly Update
January 20, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
QUACK TRACKS
Last Week
The Mallards fell 7-1 to Wichita on the road last Friday. Because of injury, illness and call-ups, the Mallards dressed just 14 skaters for what was their only outing in an 11-day stretch.
Skid
The Mallards have suffered back-to-back regulation losses and are winless (0-2-2) in their last four games. The winless streak is the Mallards' longest since they dropped four straight games between December 1 and December 9, 2012. The Mallards last went more than four games without victory when they went 0-5-1 over six International Hockey League games between January 15 and January 24, 2010.
Tight
The Mallards have dropped to seventh place, one point behind the sixth place Tulsa Oilers, who have played eight more games than the Mallards.
Playing the Percentages
The Mallards, who have played fewer games (32) than any other CHL club, have the league's fourth best winning percentage (.609).
Unlucky Seven
The Mallards last Friday gave up more goals than they have in any other game this season while also suffering their most lopsided defeat of the campaign.
Balance
While the Mallards rank in the top half of the league in goal scoring- fifth at 3.3 per game- no Mallard ranks in the top 25 in the CHL in point scoring.
On the Road
Last Friday's loss ended the Mallards' five game road winning streak. That defeat was the Mallards' first away from home since they suffered a 5-2 setback December 20 in Tulsa.
Trouble at Home
The Mallards have gone without a win (0-2-2) in their last four home games- their longest home winless streak this year.
Drought
The Mallards have scored just once in their last two games and have produced just three goals in their last three games.
Debuts
Forward Justin Fox and goaltender Nick Niedert both made their Mallard debuts last Friday night. Fox, who was leading the Southern Professional Hockey League in point scoring (16-24-40) when he joined the Mallards last week, started the campaign with the Huntsville Havoc. Niedert, who last week signed with the Mallards from the Federal Hockey League's Danville Dashers for the second time this season, made eight saves and gave up two goals after replacing starter Ty Rimmer at the beginning of the third period last Friday.
Rolling
Gergo Nagy, who scored the Mallard goal last Friday, has 21 points (six goals and 15 assists) in his last 19 games.
Leaders
Mike Hellyer is tied for third in game winning goals (5)...Among rookies, Thomas Frazee ranks fourth in points (23), is tied for fourth in assists (15) and is tied for sixth in goals (8)...Thomas Heemskerk ranks second in goals against average (2.45) and save percentage (.920)
Milestones
Jim McKenzie has recorded 98 career assists...Darren McMillan has played 498 career games and collected 97 career CHL assists...Vladimir Nikiforov has played 297 career games.
Special Teams
The Mallards rank last in the CHL in power play efficiency (10.7 percent). The Mallards have failed to score on their last 19 power plays, converted just one of their last 32, cashed in only 2 of their last 48 and scored on just three of their last 72. The Mallards, who now rank seventh in penalty killing (82.4 percent), have given up six goals on their opponents' last 16 power plays over four games. The Mallards rank third in the CHL in shorthanded goals (6).
Head to Head
The Mallards this week make their second and final trip to Brampton. The Mallards, who have gone 5-1-2 against the Beast overall this season, swept three games at the Powerade Center in late December. The Mallards and Beast will play the final two games of their 13-game season series at the iWireless Center February 28 and March 1. Nagy (3-8-11) is the top point producer in the season series.
Ins and Outs
Defenseman Nicholas Rioux returned to the Mallards today after a five-game stint with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild...Last Wednesday not only brought the Mallards' signing of Fox and Niedert but also saw Heemskerk sign a professional tryout agreement with the AHL's Worcester Sharks and forward Vladimir Nikiforov (upper body injury) go on seven day injured reserve retroactive to January 10...Nikiforov and defenseman Matt Duffy (illness) missed last Friday's game, leaving the Mallards with just nine forwards and five defensemen for that contest.
NEXT HOME GAME
Friday, January 31, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Tulsa Oilers
$1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday Presented by 97X
January 31 is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X. $1 hot dogs and $1 beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.
ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance. Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net . A limited number of Mallards games- including the club's games Thursday and Sunday in Brampton- 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 . For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to
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 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 .
Central Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2014
- Rush Unable to Sweep Cutthroats - Denver Cutthroats
- McQuade Hat Trick Leads Beast Past Chill - St. Charles Chill
- Thunder Weekly - Wichita Thunder
- Shots from the Point for January 20, 2014 - CHL
- Sundogs Drop Game in Overtime to Americans, 3-2 - Arizona Sundogs
- Americans Even Things up Late, Win It in Overtime - Allen Americans
- Tulsa Oilers Weekly News and Notes - Tulsa Oilers
- Denver Cutthroats Update - Denver Cutthroats
- Mallards Weekly Update - Quad City Mallards
- Rapid City's Keaton Hartigan Named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week - CHL
- Booras Earns Oakley CHL Player of the Week Honors - Wichita Thunder
- Wichita's Jon Booras Named Oakley CHL Player of the Week - Wichita Thunder
- Wichita's Jon Booras Named Oakley CHL Player of the Week - CHL
- Tulsa Oilers to Host Job Fair on Tuesday Night - Tulsa Oilers
- Rioux Returns to Mallards - Quad City Mallards
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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