Mallards Welcome Back Kaufmann, Sign Slais; McLean, Russo, Shelast

Published on December 27, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (December 27, 2010) - The Quad City Mallards of the "AA" Central Hockey League today announced they have signed goaltender Jerad Kaufmann and forward Eric Slais and have placed forwards Mike McLean and Tyler Shelast and goaltender Adam Russo on injured reserve.

Kaufmann, 26, returns to the Quad Cities after going 16-16-4 with a 2.99 goals against average and a .917 save percentage in 38 games with the Mallards as a rookie last season. The Roseville, Minnesota, native started this season in Scotland with the Dundee Stars of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Kaufmann turned pro after going 45-38-14 with a 2.84 goals against average, a .898 save percentage and four shutouts over the course of a standout four-year career at Nebraska-Omaha. In 2005-06 Kaufmann helped UNO to the first NCAA tournament berth in the school's history. The 6' 3", 190-pound Kaufmann played his first professional game with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors in April of 2009.

Slais, a 25-year old rookie, started this season with the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The Fenton, Missouri, native scored four goals and totaled 13 points in 20 SPHL games. The 6' 2", 187-pound Slais returned to the ice this season after not playing last year. Slais completed a four year collegiate career at Brown in 2009. In 114 career games as a Bear Slais scored 15 goals and totaled 35 points. Slais played three seasons in the junior ranks with the United States Hockey League's Chicago Steel before heading to Brown.

McLean and Shelast have been placed on 10-day injured reserve while Russo goes on 14-day goaltender injured reserve. Lower body injuries sideline McLean and Shelast. Russo has been forced out by an upper body injury. All three were injured in the Mallards' 2-0 loss to Missouri last Thursday.

The Mallards return to action at home tonight at 7:05 p.m. against the Bloomington PrairieThunder. Tickets for tonight's game- and 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.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2010


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