MOLINE, Ill. (January 23, 2015) - The Quad City Mallards have signed defenseman Bennett Schneider, the Mallards announced today.

Schneider, 25, played 28 games in the Southern Professional Hockey League for the Pensacola Ice Flyers and Mississippi Surge last season after starting the 2013-14 campaign at Hamilton College.  The 6' 3", 205-pound Fort Meyers, Florida native played seven games for Hamilton before turning professional with the Ice Flyers, for whom he collected four assists in 26 games.  Schneider then moved on to skate for the Surge in a pair of games at the end of the season.

Schneider recorded six assists while playing a total of 73 games over three plus seasons at Hamilton.  As a freshman Schneider helped the Continentals to the 2010-11 New England Small College Athletic Conference regular season title.  Schneider was a college teammate of Mallards forward Evan Haney.

Before heading to Hamilton, Schneider played three seasons in the junior ranks, taking the ice for the North American Hockey League's Southern Minnesota Express and Motor City Machine and the Eastern Junior Hockey League's New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs.

Rioux Returns to Mallards

MOLINE, Ill. (January 19, 2015) - Defenseman Nicholas Rioux has returned to the Quad City Mallards from the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Mallards announced today.  

Rioux, 28, rejoins the Mallards after last Friday signing a professional tryout agreement with Iowa for the second time this season and playing for the Wild in a 4-0 loss to the Rockford IceHogs last Friday night and in a 4-1 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters the following evening.  The 6' 1", 205-pound Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, native has now played a total of five AHL games this season during which he has recorded a plus/minus rating of +1 without registering a point.  Over the last two seasons Rioux has skated in 13 games for Iowa.

Rioux has scored two goals and added twelve assists for 14 points while posting a plus/minus rating of +3 in 31 games with the Mallards this year.  His was the eighth AHL call-up for a Mallard this season.  Rioux played alongside defenseman Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel, who was promoted from the Mallards last month, in Des Moines.  Goaltender Parker Milner returned to the Mallards from Iowa last Thursday.

MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: JANUARY 19, 2015

 

THIS WEEK
Saturday, January 24, 7:05 p.m.

Independence Events Center
Quad City Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks

 

LAST WEEK
Friday, January 16
Rapid City 4 Quad City 3 (OT)

Sunday, January 18

Quad City 3 Rapid City 1

 

Quad City
18-13-6, 42 points
tied 2nd place, Central Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Missouri
14-18-4, 32 points
6th place, Central Division
Coach: Richard Matvichuk

QUACK TRACKS
Last Weekend
The Mallards earned three of four available points from two games against Rapid City last weekend, rebounding from last Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to defeat the Rush 3-1 yesterday.

Deadlock
With yesterday's win the Mallards moved into a three-way tie with the Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder for second place in the ECHL's Central Division.  The Mallards have four games in hand on Tulsa and one game in hand on Wichita.

 

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards yesterday finished a four-game homestand with a record of 2-1-1.

All-Star Break
The Mallards have reached the All-Star break of their first ECHL campaign after yesterday kicking off the second half of their 72-game regular season schedule.  The Mallards are just behind the pace they set through 37 games last year.  They notched 46 points over the first 37 games of their final Central Hockey League season.

Workin' Overtime
With last Friday's setback the Mallards fell to 1-4 in games settled in overtime this season.

Red Light District
The Mallards rank in the top ten in the ECHL in both goals scored and goals allowed per game.  They are seventh in goals against per game (2.8) and tenth in goals scored per outing (3.1).

Special Teams
After surviving 18 of their foes' last 19 power plays, the Mallards are now tied for ninth in the ECHL in penalty killing (84.5 percent).  The Mallards have gone 1-for-21 on the man advantage over their last four games and rank eighteenth in the league in power play efficiency (15.5 percent).

Shorty
Mario Lamoureux last Friday against Rapid City scored the Mallards' first shorthanded goal of the season.

Super Mario
Lamoureux has collected two points in each of his last two games (two goals and two assists) and in three of his last four games, is on a four-game point scoring streak (3-4-7) and has 13 points (seven goals and six assists) in his last ten games.  Lamoureux is now tied for fourth in the ECHL in assists (25) and tied for seventh in points (39).

 

Foxy
Justin Fox has 13 points (three goals and ten assists) in his last 12 games. 

Between the Pipes
Parker Milner ranks fifth in the ECHL in save percentage (.919) and eighth in goals against average (2.39).  Evan Mosher ranks sixth in save percentage (.918).

Milestones
With an assist last Friday against Rapid City Darren McMillan reached 197 career points.

Head to Head
Saturday night's game will be the sixth of 15 this season between the Mallards and Mavericks.  The Mallards have gone 1-2-2 against the Mavs this year and 0-1-1 against Missouri on home ice.  All-time, the Mallards have posted a 17-22-2 overall record against the Mavericks and have gone 7-10-1 at home against Missouri.

Ins and Outs
Nicholas Rioux returned to the Mallards today after last Friday signing a professional tryout agreement with the AHL's Iowa Wild...Paxton Leroux (upper body injury) has missed the Mallards' last five games...Kevin Baker returned to the Mallard lineup last Friday against Rapid City after missing the Mallards' previous eight games (upper body injury)... Parker Milner returned from Iowa last Thursday.

NEXT HOME GAME
Wednesday, January 28, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Wichita Thunder
4 Tickets for $20; T.G.I. Friday's Postgame Party

Fans can get four tickets for just $20 for each Wednesday home game.  After each Wednesday home tilt fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's on River Drive in Moline for a postgame party.

ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance.  Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net.  A limited number of Mallards games will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football.  ECHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts and free audio webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.net.

TICKETS
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available.  Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.  Single game tickets are also available at the iWireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free.  The box 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.

Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of group benefits.  Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events.  For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

Free Tickets for Fans in Superhero Costume

 

Promotion-Packed Weekend Begins Friday Night

MOLINE, Ill. (January 14, 2015) - Fans who attend the Quad City Mallards' home game Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Rapid City Rush dressed as superheroes will receive free tickets to that contest as the Mallards cap off a promotion-packed weekend with Superhero Sunday.

The Mallards have teamed with Heroes Inc. for Superhero Sunday.  Fans of any age who get in touch with their inner superpowers and arrive in superhero guise Sunday can get their seats for free at the iWireless Center box office. In addition, the volunteer superheroes from Heroes Inc. will be on hand to meet fans during Sunday's game.  More information on Heroes Inc. can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/drivenheroes/.

The celebration of costumed crime fighters is just one part of a fun-filled weekend for the Mallards.  Sunday is also Kids Day: tickets to Sunday's game are just $5 for (non-superhero) children 12 and under.  After the game fans can join the Mallards on the ice for a postgame skate.

The Mallards will kick off the weekend when they take on the Rush Friday evening at 7:05 p.m.  Friday also brings the return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X and MetroLINK.  Fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and beers from iWireless Center concession stands during all Friday home games.  97X will follow in the spirit of the evening by presenting hot dog-themed intermission entertainment.

The Mallards have partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during all Friday home games.  Students can catch the Route 10 on campus via 7th Avenue to and from the games, with the Route 10 dropping students off near campus or at the District after games.  Students can then hop on the Route 53 from the District back to Augustana until 3 a.m.  As part of Metro's unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.  Fans can visit www.gogreenmetro.com or www.facebook.com/53and59 for more information.

This Friday- and for all remaining Friday night home games- the Mallards have also joined with Rooster's Sports Bar & Grill in Rock Island to offer fans the chance to get a lower level ticket to the Mallards' game along with an appetizer and drink at Rooster's and a Metro bus ride to the game from Rooster's and back for just $20.  For more information fans can contact Rooster's at 309-283-7005.

 

After next Friday night's game fans can join Mallards players at Governor's Pub & Grill at both 3470 Middle Road in Bettendorf and 2180 53rd Street in Moline.  Kevin Baker, Matt Duffy, Darren McMillan and Nicholas Rioux will meet fans at Governor's in Bettendorf while Pearce Eviston, Evan Haney, Logan Nelson and Johnny Rogic will join the fun in Moline.

Tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including this weekend's tilts- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.  Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.

MOLINE, Ill. (January 8, 2015) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Parker Milner has been named an alternate for the 2015 ECHL All-Star Classic, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the ECHL.

Milner, 24, will play in the January 21 All-Star Game in Orlando if one of the three goaltenders selected to compete for the ECHL All-Stars- Ontario's Joe Cannata, Greenville's Jeff Malcolm and Idaho's Olivier Roy- against the host Orlando Solar Bears is unavailable.

Milner earlier today signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL's Iowa Wild for the fifth time this season.  The 6' 1", 197-pound Pittsburgh native ranks fourth in the ECHL in save percentage (.920) and fifth in goals against average (2.39) and has gone 9-6-2 in 17 games with the Mallards this year.  Milner last night made 37 saves while backstopping the Mallards to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Wichita Thunder.

"We knew when we signed Parker this summer that he was a quality goaltender so we were very happy to get him," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.  "Since he's joined us he's shown just how good he really is so we're very proud of him for earning this recognition."

Milner last season went 4-2-0 and turned in a 2.95 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in eight AHL games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Milner spent the bulk of last year with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a 2.84 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts while going 9-14-2 in 25 games.

Milner's is the seventh AHL call-up for a Mallard this season.  Milner will join defenseman Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel, who was called up from the Mallards last month, when he arrives in Des Moines.

Milner turned professional last season after winning two national championships in four years at Boston College.  Milner went 64-20-5 while turning in a 2.23 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and six shutouts in 93 games over the course of his standout collegiate career.

Milner helped Boston College to the NCAA title as a freshman in 2010 and again as a junior in 2012.  He acted a backup during BC's run to the 2010 championship before taking a leading role in the 2012 triumph.  Then a junior, Milner was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 NCAA tournament and also earned NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament honors after going 4-0 with a 0.50 goals against average, a .982 save percentage and two shutouts during the tournament.  Milner's goals against average was tied for the best in tournament history while his save percentage was the highest since the tournament expanded beyond four teams in 1972.  He capped off his superb tournament effort by making 27 saves in BC's 4-1 victory over Ferris State in the national championship game.  The NCAA title was the crowning achievement of a season that also saw Milner and his teammates win the Hockey East regular season and tournament titles as well as the Beanpot and Icebreaker tournaments.

Over the 2011-12 campaign as a whole, Milner went 29-5-0 while registering a 1.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games.  His .853 winning percentage was the best in the nation.  He completed his college career in 2012-13 by playing in all but one of the Eagles' 38 games, going 22-11-4 and recording a 2.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and two shutouts.

During Milner's time in Chestnut Hill, BC not only claimed a pair of NCAA crowns but also secured three Hockey East postseason titles along with two conference regular season championships, made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and won four straight Beanpots.

Before putting on the maroon and gold, Milner spent one season in the junior ranks with the United States Hockey League's Waterloo Black Hawks and one in prep school hockey at Avon Old Farms.