THIS WEEK
Saturday, October 26, 7:05 p.m.
i wireless Center, Moline
St. Charles Chill vs. Quad City Mallards
Sunday, October 27, 4:05 p.m.
The Family Arena, St. Charles
Quad City Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
Quad City
0-1-0 (0 points)
10th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
St. Charles
0-0-1 (1 point)
tied 8th place
Coach: Jamie Rivers
QUACK TRACKS
Opener
In the wake of last Saturday's defeat, the Mallards have gone 2-3-0 in season openers and 0-5-0 in home openers since returning for the 2009-10 season. The Mallards last won a home opener on October 22, 2005, when, while competing in the United Hockey League, they defeated the Motor City Mechanics 4-3.
Home Sweet Home
This Saturday's game is the second in a stretch that will see the Mallards play six of their first seven at home. The Mallards last season went 20-10-3 at home. Last Saturday's defeat was the Mallards' first regular season setback on home ice since a 3-2 loss to the Rush on February 19, after which the Mallards won their final eight regular season home games of the 2012-13 campaign.
On the Road
The Mallards next Sunday will play their first away game of the season. The Mallards last year went 14-16-3 on the road.
Debuts
Jim McKenzie scored twice- including the Mallards' first goal of the season- in his Quad City debut last Saturday and is now tied for the early league lead in goals. Gabriel Levesque also scored in what was his Mallard debut. Tyler Yaworski last Saturday picked up an assist while making his professional debut while Jeff Lee and Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel each notched their first Mallards points (an assist apiece).
Between the Pipes
Rookie Ty Rimmer made 29 saves last Saturday while suffering the loss in his Central Hockey League debut.
Welcome Back
Defenseman Darren McMillan last Saturday became the only player to skate for the Mallards in each of the five seasons since the team returned to the ice (after the Quad City Flames competed in the American Hockey League in 2007-08 and 2008-09) for the 2009-10 season.
Even Steven
All ten goals in last Saturday's game were scored at even strength. The Mallards went 0-for-4 on the power play while killing off both Rush man advantages.
Shoot on Sight
Over the opening weekend of the CHL season, only the Denver Cutthroats last Friday against Tulsa took more shots (45) than the 44 the Mallards hurled at the Rapid City net last Saturday evening. McKenzie led the Mallards with seven shots on goal.
Familiar Faces
Anthony Perdicaro, who played for the Mallards last year, joined the Chill just before the start of this season and made his St. Charles debut last Saturday in the Chill's opening night 3-2 shootout loss to Missouri...Three- Eric Giosa, Jared Brown and Ryan Palmer- of the four former Mallards on the Rush roster scored against their old team last Saturday. The fourth- Bob Preece- engaged in a third period fight with former teammate Matt Boyd...Former Rush forward Lee registered an assist last Saturday in his first game against his old club.
Milestones
McKenzie's first goal last Saturday was his one hundred fiftieth career point ...Matt Duffy has notched 93 career points...Gabriel Levesque has played 92 career games...McMillan has collected 91 career CHL assists...Nicholas Rioux has registered 48 career points.
Head-to-Head
The Mallards and the expansion Chill this Saturday meet for the first time. That tilt is the first of three straight for the Mallards against St. Charles. After visiting the Family Arena next Sunday, the Mallards will return home to clash with the Chill on Friday, November 1. The two clubs will get together a total of 14 times this season.
Ins and Outs
The Mallards last Tuesday re-signed forward Mike Hellyer.
NEXT HOME GAME
Saturday, October 26, 7:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
The Mallards and Chill meet for the first time in the Mallards' second home game of the season.
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- including Sunday's contest- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football. Free audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com. CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.
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 both season and single game tickets. Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless 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 can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great 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.
