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Morrison Joins Mallards from Chicago; Hartzell Signed

December 17, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Defenseman Kenney Morrison has been loaned to the Quad City Mallards by the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves and the Mallards have signed goaltender Eric Hartzell to a standard player contract, the Mallards announced today.

Morrison, 25, has collected three assists in ten games with the Wolves this season. Now in his third full professional season, Morrison has played 115 career games- all in the AHL- during which he has produced nine goals, 25 assists and 34 points. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Lloydminster, Alberta, native scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points in 51 games with the Stockton Heat last season. He also spent his first full pro campaign with the Heat in 2015-16 after breaking in with the Adirondack Flames late in the 2014-15 season.

Three seasons at Western Michigan University preceded Morrison's jump to the pro ranks. Morrison recorded 16 goals, 38 assists and 54 points in 115 games career games as Bronco. In 2012-13 he was named to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team after running up what would prove to be collegiate career highs in goals (7) and points (20) over 38 games.

Prior to his arrival at Western Michigan, Morrison played for clubs in three different junior leagues. After appearing a single game for the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2009-10, he skated for the British Columbia Hockey League's Alberni Valley Bulldogs in 2010-11 and the United States Hockey League's Omaha Lancers in 2011-12.

Hartzell, 28, returns to North America with the Mallards after starting this season- and finishing last year- in the Slovak Extraliga with HK Nitra. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound White Bear Lake, Minnesota, native posted a 3.23 goals against average and a .881 save percentage in 11 games in Slovakia this season.

Hartzell last year turned in a 2.56 goals against average and a .918 save percentage in 15 games after joining HK Nitra. Hartzell began last season with the Fort Wayne Komets. He went 7-7-0 with a 3.41 goals against average, a .888 save percentage and one shutout in 19 games with Fort Wayne. Hartzell has gone 34-29-4 with a 3.06 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and three shutouts in 70 career ECHL games with the Komets, Wheeling Nailers and Idaho Steelheads.

Hartzell first played in Europe in 2015-16. He spent the bulk of that campaign in Germany with Heilbronner Falken of DEL2 after starting the season with Idaho and also playing one AHL game for Stockton.

Hartzell split his first two pro seasons between the AHL's Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and the Nailers. He has gone 12-8-0 with a 2.45 goals against average, a .903 save percentage and three shutouts in 28 career AHL games. His career got off to a strong start when he earned a share of the 2013-14 Harry Holmes Memorial Award, which is presented to the top AHL's top goaltending duo, by going 10-8-1 with a 2.48 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and three shutouts in 25 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Hartzell enjoyed four standout seasons at Quinnipiac University before turning pro. As a senior in 2012-13 he was named to the All-American (East) First Team, was voted ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year, was selected for both the ECAC Hockey First All-Star Team and the New England Division I All-Star Team and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is awarded to the top collegiate player in the nation. Hartzell led the nation in wins and minutes played (2522:02), finished third in goals against average (1.57), finished tied for third in shutouts (5) and finished eighth in save percentage (.933). Team success went hand-in-hand with the individual accolades showered upon Hartzell in his final collegiate campaign: the 2012-13 season saw him backstop Quinnipiac to the first NCAA title game appearance in school history. Over his four collegiate seasons, Hartzell went 58-27-17 with a 1.96 goals against average, a .924 save percentage and ten shutouts in 106 games.

Hartzell played just over two full seasons over junior hockey with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL before heading to Quinnipiac.

The Mallards return to action tomorrow night on the road against the Indy Fuel. The Mallards next play at home next Wednesday night, December 20 at 6:35 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets. Fans can enjoy $1 10-ounce beers from TaxSlayer Center concession stands during all Mallards Wednesday home games this season.

Tickets for next Wednesday's contest and all Mallards regular season home games are now on sale at the TaxSlayer Center box office, Ticketmaster toll free charge-by-phone ( 1-800-745-3000 ) and ticketmaster.com . The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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