Motte Signs PTO with Iowa

December 19, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Quad City Mallards goaltender C.J. Motte has signed a professional tryout agreement with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Mallards announced today.

This is Motte's second trip to the AHL this season. The 26-year old St. Clair, Michigan native went 1-1-1 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .922 save percentage in three games while spending just over a month with the AHL's Chicago Wolves earlier in the campaign. In nine career AHL games, the 6-foot, 175-pound Motte has gone 3-3-2 with a 2.15 goal against average and a .929 save percentage.

Motte has posted a 3.15 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout while going 1-7-1 in nine games with the Mallards this season. Motte finished last season- his first with the Mallards- tied for sixth in the ECHL in save percentage (.917) and tied for eighth in goals against average (2.68) while going 20-11-2 in 36 games. In January, Motte represented the Mallards- and earned the win- in the 2017 ECHL All-Star Game.

Motte returns to Iowa after first suiting up for the Wild- without seeing any game action- late last season. Motte last year also spent time in the AHL with the Wolves and Charlotte Checkers. He played in two AHL games last season- both with Charlotte- and went 1-0-0 with a 0.75 goals against average and a .976 save percentage while surrendering a single goal on 42 shots.

Motte went 15-22-2 with a 2.83 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 42 games as a rookie with the Elmira Jackals in 2015-16.

Motte broke into pro hockey with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, for whom he played four games and posted a 1-2-1 record, a 2.49 goals against average and a .917 save percentage late in the 2014-15 season.

Motte turned pro after four sterling seasons at Ferris State University. In 2014-15 he became the first goaltender in school history to serve as team captain. He set Ferris State records for most career wins and shutouts (15) while going 66-49-12 with a 2.13 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in 127 collegiate games.

Motte not only earned All-WCHA honors in both his junior (first team) and senior (third team) years but was also one of ten finalists for the 2014 Hobey Baker Award. As a senior, Motte finished second in the nation in minutes played (2435:33) and tied for sixth in shutouts (5) after leading Division I netminders in both wins (28) and minutes (2431:06) and also finishing tied for sixth in shutouts (5) in his junior year.

Motte and the Bulldogs won regular season conference titles and earned NCAA tournament bids in both 2011-12 and 2013-14 and in 2012 reached the national title game.

Motte played three years of junior hockey before heading to Ferris State. He spent two seasons in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Black Hawks after a single campaign in the North American Hockey League with the Traverse City North Stars.

The Mallards next play at home Wednesday night 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 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.



ECHL Stories from December 19, 2017


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.

OurSports Central