Mitch Maloney Called up to USHL's Cedar Rapids
December 23, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Fighting Falcons are proud to announce that forward Mitch Maloney has been called up to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League.
The 19-year-old was the Fighting Falcons' leading scorer at the time of his call-up, with 29 points on 18 goals and 11 assists in 31 games in Port Huron this season. Maloney was second in the NAHL in goals scored, and in the top ten in points.
In two seasons with the Fighting Falcons, Maloney totaled 51 points on 30 goals and 21 assists. A native of Macomb, Maloney had played for Honeybaked's U18 team before moving up to the NAHL last year.
Among Maloney's new teammates when he joins the RoughRiders after Christmas is former Fighting Falcons teammate Mark Evan Auk, who was called up to the Tier 1 USHL in December 2012. Auk had assisted on two of Maloney's ten goals last season in Port Huron.
"We're really excited that Mitch is getting the opportunity to play in the USHL," said Fighting Falcons Head Coach and General Manager Michael Gershon. "With the hard work he's put in to improve, he 100% deserves to make the jump, and we're confident that his success here will translate at the next level.
"Mitch has been a great leader here, and he's a player that really embodies the kind of hockey we want to play, and we can't wait to see what his future holds," Gershon added. "It's great to see him rewarded like this, and we hope the guys in our locker room can do what it takes to follow the same path."
Maloney is the first Fighting Falcons player to get the call-up to the USHL this season, after forwards Tyler Spezia and David Parrottino earned roster spots with the Youngstown Phantoms and Lincoln Stars, respectively.
"One of the most important goals of this franchise is to do whatever we can to help our players reach their potential and further their careers, whether that's through a college commitment or a USHL call-up," Gershon said. "While it's tough to lose a player like Mitch, it's a problem we're happy to deal with, and if we're doing our jobs as coaches, it's a problem we'll run into a few more times before the end of the season."
Current Fighting Falcons captain Bryan Yim had been called up to the Indianapolis Ice last season, but returned to Port Huron for the 2013-14 campaign.
The Fighting Falcons return from the NAHL's holiday break when they travel to Springfield, IL to take on the Jr. Blues on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. They return to home ice to host the Janesville Jets Friday, January 3 and Saturday January 4.
Tickets to any Fighting Falcons home game are available at the McMorran Arena Box Office, starting at just $7 for seniors, students and military. For more information, call the team's front office at (810) 966-3800.
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