Reynaert Returns for 2003-04
Published on July 16, 2003 under United Hockey League (UHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL â Coming off a season in which he was named to the United Hockey League's All-Rookie team and led the league in save percentage, goaltender Jeff Reynaert has re-signed with the Quad City Mallards for the 2003-04 season. Team President/General Manager Howard Cornfield made the announcement today.
With the recent retirement announcement by all-time UHL wins leader Joe Dimaline, Reynaert is expected to take over as the starting goaltender for the Mallards.
Acquired in a mid-January trade with the Kalamazoo Wings, Reynaert (pronounced "RAIN-ert") soon went on a hot streak, posting a 13-1-0 record over 14 starts from Feb. 1 to March 16. He was named UHL Goaltender of the Month for February and captured Goaltender of the Week honors twice. With the Mallards, he went 15-4-2 in the regular season, with a 2.39 goals against average and a single-season franchise record .925 save percentage.
For the 2002-03 season, including his time with Kalamazoo, Reynaert led the UHL with a .923 save percentage, ranked second in the league with a 2.50 goals against average, and posted a 22-10-5 record. He played every post-season game, leading the Mallards to the Colonial Cup Championship Series with an 8-6 record, a 2.83 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. That included the Mallards' only playoff shutout, a 30-save effort in a 4-0 win over the Rockford IceHogs in the opening game of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Reynaert is currently in Germany, playing for the USA Hockey InLine National Team in the 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation In-Line Hockey World Championships. The Americans finished the preliminary round unbeaten at 3-0, with wins over the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Austria. Reynaert has played every game. The USA Team will face either Slovenia or Japan in its first playoff contest on Thursday.
Because of a change in UHL rules implemented in February, Reynaert still qualifies as a rookie in 2003-04. As long as a goaltender has played no more than 2,400 minutes in pro hockey, the equivalent of 40 games, he is considered a rookie. Reynaert has played 2,388 minutes. Each team must dress a minimum of three rookies if they are to have a full lineup of 18 players (16 skaters, two goaltenders).
Reynaert, a 23-year-old native of Sterling Heights, Mich., earned his degree in Criminal Justice from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. He brings to three the number of players under contract with the Mallards for 2003-04. The others are defensemen Terry Hollinger and Adam Kragthorpe.
The Mallards will open the home portion of their 2003-04 schedule on Saturday, Nov. 8, at The MARK of the Quad Cities, when they host the Flint Generals.
Season tickets, including all 38 regular season home games and all playoff games at no additional charge, are available now through the Mallards office. Extended payment plans make season tickets more affordable now than ever before!
Season ticket holders are entered in a major prize drawing, including free Lasik surgery from Virdi Eye Clinic. Those who have paid in full will receive the limited edition Legends Bobblehead Series, including Mark McFarlane, Jason Ulmer, Sergei Zvyagin, and Coach Paul MacLean.
For information on the exciting 2003-04 season of Mallards hockey, call (309) 764-7825, or visit the Mallards official web site at www.qcmallards.com.
United Hockey League Stories from July 16, 2003
- Reynaert Returns for 2003-04 - Quad City Mallards
- Richmond Names Langway Head Coach - Richmond RiverDogs
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