Rights to Essex Reacquired by Mallards
September 28, 2004 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL-Quad City Mallards President and General Manager Howard Cornfield announced today that the Mallards have reacquired the rights to right winger/ defenseman Brad Essex from the Kansas City Outlaws in exchange for cash. Essex spent last season with the Mallards before being selected by Kansas City in this summer's expansion draft.
The 6-foot, 195-pound native of Squarnish, British Columbia is a team oriented, physical force who appeared in 29 Mallards games in the second half of the 2003-04 season. The 29-year old suffered an ankle injury that held him out of several games as a Mallard. Essex recorded three goals and six assists for nine points with 54 penalty minutes after joining the Mallards in mid-season from the Adirondack Ice Hawks. In 57 total UHL games, Essex recorded 20 major penalties.
Essex established himself as a premier enforcer at the double A level after leading the ECHL's Peoria Rivermen in penalty minutes (181) as a rookie. He would go on to lead the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves in penalty minutes for three consecutive seasons (1998-99 through 2000-01). Essex was a member of the Wolves' 1998-99 ECHL Championship squad. In 388 games over eight pro season, Essex has recorded over 1,200 penalty minutes.
"Brad is the consummate team player who will do anything to help his team win," said Cornfield. "With his new career as a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman temporarily on hold, we are excited to reacquire his rights."
The Mallards currently have 16 player under contract for 2004-05. Mike Burgoyne, Jason Deskins, Jeff Doyle, Joe Dusbabek, Jonathan Gagnon, Ojay Hehr, Lenny Hofmann, Jason Lehoux, Drew Otten and Marty Standish form the Mallards forward corp. Justin Brown, Serge Crochetiere, Terry Hollinger, Alexander Skorohod and Sam Phillips will patrol the Mallards blueline while Jeff Reynaert tends goal.
The Mallards begin the home portion of their tenth anniversary season on October 30th vs. Kansas City at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Season tickets are available via the Mallards ticket office at (309) 764-7825. For the latest Mallards news and ticket information, visit www.qcmallards.com.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 28, 2004
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