Return Trip to Iowa Wild for Rioux

January 21, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (January 21, 2014) - Quad City Mallards defenseman Nicholas Rioux has rejoined the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild on a professional tryout agreement, the Mallards announced today.

Rioux had returned to the Mallards from Iowa yesterday after spending five games with the Wild. The 27-year old native of Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, went without a point and recorded a plus/minus rating of +1 after first being called up on January 6. Rioux also skated in Iowa's preseason training camp.

Rioux has scored two goals and totaled 12 points while posting a plus/minus rating of +11 in 28 games with the Mallards this season.

Rioux joined the Mallards after spending last year with the Central Hockey League's Bloomington Blaze, for whom he scored s even goals and totaled 27 points while turning in a plus/minus rating of +3. The 6' 1", 205-pound blue liner played in each of the Blaze's 66 regular season games and, before moving up to Iowa earlier this month, had missed just a single CHL game over his first three professional campaigns.

This season is Rioux's second under Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski. Rioux first skated for Ruskowski as a rookie with the CHL's Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in 2011-12. Rioux scored five times, produced 21 points and posted a plus/minus rating of +5 in 65 games with the Killer Bees.

Rioux turned pro after a three-year college career at St. Cloud State during which he totaled three goals and four assists in 26 games. Rioux played two seasons of junior hockey in the British Columbia League- with the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings- before heading to St. Cloud.

The Mallards return to action Thursday on the road against the Brampton Beast. The Mallards next play at home on Friday, January 31 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers. January 31 is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X. $1 hot dogs and beers will be available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.

Tickets for the January 31 game and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket 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.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2014


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