MOLINE, Ill. (February 14, 2014) - Gergo Nagy scored twice and Thomas Heemskerk made 33 saves as the host Quad City Mallards defeated the Rapid City Rush 4-2 Friday night.  The win was the Mallards' (23-11-8, 54 points) third in a row while the defeat was the Rush's (28-18-0, 56 points) fifth in succession.

After Nagy twice gave the Mallards the lead in the first period it was Jeff Lee who put Quad City on top for good at 11:27 of the second period.  The Mallards were on the power play when Lee buried a rebound to snap a 2-2 deadlock.

With just 2:59 left in the third period, Justin Fox clinched the win by sweeping the fourth Mallard goal home between Rapid City goaltender Tim Boron's pads from the right wing circle.

Fox finally put the game beyond Rapid City's reach after the Rush had twice come from behind to even the score earlier in the evening.  Just 46 seconds after Nagy tipped in the opening goal at 4:29 of the first period Rapid City's Bob Preece tied the game from the left point.  Nagy put the Mallards back on top at 16:44 of the first with a blast from the top of the left wing circle.  Jared Brown would knot the game again at 3:37 of the second period when his drive from the top of the right circle was deflected past Heemskerk but the Rush would not beat the Mallard goaltender again.

The Mallards host the Rush again tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.  The first 1,000 fans through the doors for tomorrow evening's game will receive free Terry Ruskowski bobblehead dolls courtesy of KWQC TV6.

Tickets for tomorrow night's 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.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

Mallards Meet Rapid City

 

$1 Dog/$1 Beer Night Presented by 97X Returns Friday

 

Donate to Student Hunger Drive for Free Youth Tickets Friday

MOLINE, Ill. (February 12, 2014) - The First 1,000 fans through the doors for this Saturday night's 7:05 p.m. game between the Quad City Mallards and Rapid City Rush at the iWireless Center will receive free Terry Ruskowski bobblehead dolls.

The bobbleheads in the image of Ruskwoski- the Mallards' coach and general manager- will be given away at what will be the second of the Mallards' two home games in as many nights against Rapid City this weekend.

The Mallards will open the weekend Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. with the return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X.  $1 hot dogs and $1 beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.  First intermission entertainment will, courtesy of 97X, follow the hot dog-themed spirit of the evening.

The Mallards have partnered with Metro, which provides earlier service on the Route 59 between Augustana College and downtown Moline during Friday home games this season.  The Route 59 will make one trip from campus to downtown Moline prior to the game (arriving at 5th Avenue and 15th Street at 6:30 p.m.) and will resume service from downtown to campus every 30 minutes from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.  Regular Metro fares are just $1 one-way or $2 round-trip.  As part of Metro's unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.  Visit www.gogreenmetro.com or www.facebook.com/53and59 for more information.  

Friday will also see fans who donate three non-perishable food items to the Student Hunger Drive's corporate challenge at the iWireless Center receive a voucher good for a free youth (12 and under) ticket to Friday night's game.

The Student Hunger Drive helps feed area hungry while instilling a sense of volunteerism and community in area youth.  Community leaders partner with local food banks and area schools to host a 6 week challenge every year.  Currently, Student Hunger Drives are taking place in the Quad Cities, Charlotte, North Carolina and Northern Indiana.  Students are the power behind this mission creating fun and innovative ways to raise money, collect food and feed the hungry.

 

Saturday night's Ruskowski bobblehead giveaway honors the third winningest coach in Central Hockey League history.  Now in his second season behind the Mallard bench, Ruskowski is not only a highly successful coach but was also a fine player.  Ruskowski skated in 999 career games for six teams including the Chicago Blackhawks and is the only man in hockey history to have captained four different clubs.

Tickets for this weekend's games or any remaining Mallards regular season home game 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.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

MOLINE, Ill. (February 10, 2014) - Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk has returned to the Quad City Mallards from the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat and the Mallards have waived goaltender Nick Niedert, the Mallards announced today.

Heemskerk, 23, last Monday signed a professional tryout agreement with Abbotsford.  That call-up was Heemskerk's fourth to the AHL this season.  The third year netminder last month spent 12 days with the Worcester Sharks after joining the Iowa Wild for a pair of stints as a back-up earlier in the campaign.  Heemskerk has yet to see any AHL game action this season.

Heemskerk leads the Central Hockey League in goals against average (2.36) and save percentage (.923) and is tied for third in shutouts (2).  The 6' 0", 210-pound Chilliwack, British Columbia native has suffered just one regulation loss this season, going 10-1-4 in 15 games.  Heemskerk is unbeaten in regulation in his last six games, a stretch during which he has posted a 5-0-1 record, a 1.48 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and two shutouts.

Heemskerk played for Worcester in both 2011-12 and 2012-13.  Over two games last year with the San Jose Sharks' top affiliate, Heemskerk turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced in 67 minutes, turning in a 1.79 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.  In four games with Worcester in 2011-12, he went 0-1-0 with a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Heemskerk spent the bulk of his first two campaigns in the ECHL.  Last year he went 14-17-3 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 38 games with the San Francisco Bulls.  Heemskerk began his professional career in 2011-12 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a record of 13-12-0 along with a 3.27 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 25 games.

Heemskerk turned pro after four years in the major junior Western Hockey League. In his final WHL season, he finished second in the league in minutes (3,841), third in saves (2041) and fifth in wins (36) while recording a 2.94 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in 65 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The 2010-11 season was the second straight campaign during which Heemskerk landed among the league leaders. In 2009-10, while tending goal for the Everett Silvertips, he topped the Western League in save percentage (.927), finished third in goals against average (2.34) and was tied for seventh in shutouts (4) while going 24-12-4 in 42 games. Heemskerk's efforts helped the Silvertips earn a share of the United States Division title. Heemskerk joined Everett midway through the 2008-09 season after spending his first year and a half in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice.

Niedert last Friday signed with the Mallards from the Danville Dashers of the Federal Hockey League for the third time this season.  The 31-year old made his Mallard debut on January 17 in Wichita, making eight saves and giving up two goals after entering what proved to a 7-1 Mallard loss to the Thunder at the beginning of the third period.  Niedert has spent most of the season with the Dashers while also tending goal in one ECHL game for the Utah Grizzlies this year.  The.  The 5' 8", 185-pound native of Hudson, Iowa, has gone 3-10-1 with a 5.25 goals against average and a .869 save percentage in 15 games with Danville.

Niedert played for five teams in four leagues last season- the Gwinnett Gladiators and Reading Royals of the ECHL, the Bloomington Blaze of the CHL, the Augusta RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Hockey League and the Danbury Whalers of the FHL.  Over the course of his nine-year career, Niedert has played for 23 teams in nine different leagues after competing for five teams over three seasons of junior hockey.  He first wore the Mallards' colors during the club's 2011 training camp.

The Mallards next play at home Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Rapid City Rush.  Friday is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X.  $1 hot dogs and beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.

Tickets for Friday night's 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.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

Levesque Hat Trick Powers Mallards Past Chill 6-3 in Front of 8,761

MOLINE, Ill. (February 8, 2014) - Gabriel Levesque scored a hat trick and added an assist as the host Quad City Mallards defeated the St. Charles Chill 6-3 Saturday night in front 8,761 fans.  By winning in front of the largest Central Hockey League crowd this season the Mallards (21-11-8) reached the 50-point plateau while the loss left the Chill (10-30-5, 25 points) with 30 regulation defeats this year.

After Levesque pounced on a rebound at 17:45 of the second period to complete his hat trick and give Quad City a 4-2 lead, the Mallards would put the game away by outscoring the Chill 2-1 in the third period.  Mike Monfredo widened the Mallard advantage to three for the first time by sweeping the puck home from the left wing circle at 5:58 of the third.  With the Chill on the man advantage Dan Weiss's wrist shot snuck inside the post and trimmed the Mallard cushion to 5-3 at 10:47, but just under four minutes later Thomas Frazee would cap off the Quad City victory with a close range power play goal.

The Mallards had emerged from a wild opening 20 minutes with a 3-2 lead.  Levesque started the scoring by pouncing on a rebound for the first of his two first period power play goals 8:23 into the game.  Matt Duffy's drive from the high slot stretched the Mallard lead to 2-0 just a minute and 19 seconds later.  A Travis Ouelette wrist shot from the slot got St. Charles on the scoreboard for the first time at 13:06 of the first.  Levesque struck again at 17:09, roofing the puck from the slot to reestablish the two goal Mallard lead.  Just when it seemed that two goal margin would stand up through the end of first the Chill would strike on the power play.  Kyle O'Kane buried Nicklas Lindberg's centering feed with just 17.2 seconds left in the first to once more reduce the gap to a single goal, but St. Charles would get no closer.

The Mallards and Chill meet again tomorrow in St. Charles.  The Mallards next play at home next Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Rapid City Rush.  Next Friday is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X.  $1 hot dogs and beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.

Tickets for next Friday night's 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.

Monfredo Scores Last Minute Power Play Winner, Mallards Outlast Chill 6-4

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (February 9, 2014) - Mike Monfredo scored a tie breaking power play goal with just 30 seconds left in regulation and the Quad City Mallards went on to claim a wild 6-4 win over the host St. Charles Chill Sunday.  With victory, the Mallards (22-11-8, 52 points) moved into sole possession of fifth place in the Central Hockey League and completed a two-game home-and-home sweep of the Chill (10-31-5, 25 points).

Monfredo blasted the game winner from the right point with the Mallards on a late man advantage that resulted from a major penalty (kneeing) assessed to the Chill's Sean Muncy.  Thomas Frazee, who also had an assist, clinched the win by scoring an empty net goal on the power play with only 13 seconds left in the contest.

The Mallards' late flurry capped off a third period Quad City comeback triggered by Justin Fox's close range equalizer at 13:36 of the final frame.  The Mallards found themselves in need of a rally when Ryan Berard broke a 3-3 deadlock from the slot with the second St. Charles shorthanded goal of the game at 11:57 of the third.

The Chill outscored the Mallards 3-2 in a back-and-forth second period to set the stage for that frantic finish.  What had been a 1-0 Mallard lead was erased when Travis Ouellete pounced on a rebound at 2:33 of the second.  Exactly two minutes later, Nick Grasso finished off a 2-on-1 rush to put the Mallards back on top.  That advantage lasted only until Martin Hlinka scored shorthanded from the top of the left wing circle to knot the game at two at 9:29.  Just a minute and 47 seconds later he Chill took the lead for the first time with Cameron Cooper's sharp angle shot.  The Mallards responded when Matt Duffy fired in a rebound at 15:27 to tie the score at three.

Jeff Lee's backhander from the slot had opened the scoring at 5:29 of the first period and kick-started what proved to be a roller coaster afternoon.

Americans Drop Mallards 5-2

MOLINE, Ill. (February 7, 2014) - Brian McMillin scored two goals and Mark Guggenberger made 40 saves as the Allen Americans defeated the host Quad City Mallards 5-2 Friday night.  With the loss, the Mallards (20-11-8, 48 points) settled for a split of their two game series with Allen while the victory ended the Americans' (26-13-4, 56 points) three-game losing streak.

Daniel Tetrault scored what proved to be the game winner on the power play at 8:38 of the second period.  Tetrault's one timer from the high slot broke a 2-2 deadlock and turned out to be the first of three unanswered Allen goals. That the Americans entered the third period still on top 3-2 was due in good part to Guggenberger's 19-save effort in the second.

The Americans took control of the contest with a pair of goals in the third.  McMillin charged into the goalmouth and buried his second of the game just 13 seconds into the final frame.  Alex Lavoie scored Allen's fifth by converting Greger Hanson's centering pass at 7:40.

The Mallards had battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to even the score in the first period.  McMillin's close range backhander opened the scoring at 2:31 of the first.  At 4:45 Hanson pounced on a rebound to double the Allen lead.  The Mallards were on the power play when Matt Duffy's blue line blast cut the gap to 2-1 at 5:47.  With just 51 seconds left in the period and the Mallards again on the power play, Mike Monfredo swooped through the left wing circle to score the equalizer but the Mallards would be unable to rally a second time.

Niedert Signed

MOLINE, Ill. (February 7, 2014) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Eric Levine has signed a professional tryout agreement with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League while the Mallards have signed goaltender Nick Niedert, the Mallards announced today.

Levine, a 25-year old rookie, signed with the Mallards Wednesday after starting the season with the Peoria Rivermen of the Southern Professional Hockey League.  Levine went 10-7-4 while posting a 2.72 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in 21 games with Peoria.  Levine's is the tenth AHL call-up for a Mallard this season.

Levine last year enjoyed a standout senior season at Robert Morris University, going 19-12-2 and turning in a 2.55 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and four shutouts in 35 games while helping propel the Colonials to the best record in the history of the school's hockey program.  In 72 career collegiate games, the 6' 3", 180-pound Wheeling, Illinois, native went 30-22-11 with a 2.90 goals against average, a .925 save percentage and five shutouts.

Levine arrived at Robert Morris after spending two seasons in the Ontario junior A ranks with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Hawkesbury Hawks and Wellington Dukes.

Niedert rejoins the Mallards from the Danville Dashers of the Federal Hockey League.  This is the 31-year old's third stint with the Mallards this season.  Niedert made his Mallard debut on January 17 in Wichita, making eight saves and giving up two goals after entering what proved to a 7-1 Mallard loss to the Thunder at the beginning of the third period.  Niedert has spent most of the season with the Dashers while also tending goal in one ECHL game for the Utah Grizzlies this year.  The.  The 5' 8", 185-pound native of Hudson, Iowa, has gone 3-10-1 with a 5.25 goals against average and a .869 save percentage in 15 games with Danville.

Niedert played for five teams in four leagues last season- the Gwinnett Gladiators and Reading Royals of the ECHL, the Bloomington Blaze of the CHL, the Augusta RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Hockey League and the Danbury Whalers of the FHL.  Over the course of his nine-year career, Niedert has played for 23 teams in nine different leagues after competing for five teams over three seasons of junior hockey.  He first wore the Mallards' colors during the club's 2011 training camp.

Tomorrow (Saturday) night the Bier Stube will bring the "flavors of Germany" to the I-Grill during the Mallards' game against the St. Charles Chill at the iWireless Center.

Fans can enjoy a selection of handmade sausages- potato, bratwurst, knockwurst and Polish- along with their favorite toppings.  Tomorrow night the iWireless Center and the Bier Stube are also baking up a Victory Knot, a huge two-pound Bavarian pretzel with vanilla icing, grain mustard sauce and warm cheese sauce for dipping.  Fans can also wash it all down with one of two specialty "biers": Hacker Pschorr Wiesse or Erdinger Weib Bier.

The I-Grill is located on the main iWireless Center concourse near the top of the escalator.  Tomorrow evening's game faces off at 7:05 p.m.

The Bier Stube is a German-American bar and grill "where everyone can get a little German in them" located in Moline at 415 15th Street and in LeClaire at 1001 Canal Drive.
MOLINE, Ill. (February 5, 2014) - Nicholas Rioux snapped a 2-2 tie at 9:56 of the third period with the first of three unanswered Quad City Mallard goals as the Mallards defeated the Allen Americans 5-2 Wednesday night.

The win was the Mallards' twentieth of the season.  Quad City improved to 20-10-8 (48 points) while handing Allen (25-13-4, 54 points) its third straight loss.

Rioux's drive from the right point caromed off an Allen skate and past Americans goaltender Bryan Pitton to give the Mallards their third lead of the night.  The Mallards stretched the gap to 4-2 just one minute and 49 seconds later.  Matt Duffy's one timer gave Quad City its first two goal cushion.  Mike Stinziani's empty net goal clinched the win with a minute left in the contest.

The Mallards put the Americans away in the third after failing to hold leads in each of the first two periods.  Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel- who also had an assist- finished off a give-and-go with Nick Grasso from close range to open the scoring at 2:48 of the first period.  The Americans rebounded to even the score when Jamie Schaafsma snapped the puck home from the high slot at 7:09 of the first.

Matt Boyd's tip-in broke the 1-1 deadlock at 10:48 of the second period but the Americans responded for the second time with Kale Kerbashian's wrist shot from the right wing circle at 16:22 of the second.

The Mallards and Americans meet again Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at the iWireless Center.  Friday 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 Friday night's 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.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

MOLINE, Ill. (February 5, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards have signed goaltender Eric Levine, the Mallards announced today.

Levine, a 25-year old rookie, has gone 10-7-4 while posting a 2.72 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in 21 games with the Peoria Rivermen of the Southern Professional Hockey League this season.

Levine last year enjoyed a standout senior season at Robert Morris University, going 19-12-2 and turning in a 2.55 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and four shutouts in 35 games while helping propel the Colonials to the best record in the history of the school's hockey program.  In 72 career collegiate games, the 6' 3", 180-pound Wheeling, Illinois, native went 30-22-11 with a 2.90 goals against average, a .925 save percentage and five shutouts.

Levine arrived at Robert Morris after spending two seasons in the Ontario junior A ranks with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Hawkesbury Hawks and Wellington Dukes.

 

 

Netminder Heads to Abbotsford

MOLINE, Ill. (February 3, 2014) - - Quad City Mallards goaltender Thomas Heemskerk has joined the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat on a professional tryout agreement, the Mallards announced today.

Heemskerk, 23, leads the Central Hockey League in goals against average (2.36) and save percentage (.923) and is tied for third in shutouts (2).  The 6' 0", 210-pound Chilliwack, British Columbia native has suffered just one regulation loss this season, going 10-1-4 in 15 games.  Heemskerk is unbeaten in regulation in his last six games, a stretch during which he has posted a 5-0-1 record, a 1.48 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and two shutouts.

This is Heemskerk's fourth AHL call-up this season.  The third year netminder returned to the Mallards a week ago after 12 days with the Worcester Sharks during which he did not see any gave action.  He joined the Iowa Wild for a pair of stints as a back-up earlier in the campaign.

Heemskerk played for Worcester each of the last two seasons.  Over two games last year with the San Jose Sharks' top affiliate, Heemskerk turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced in 67 minutes, turning in a 1.79 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.  In four games with Worcester in 2011-12, he went 0-1-0 with a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Heemskerk spent the bulk of his first two campaigns in the ECHL.  Last year he went 14-17-3 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 38 games with the San Francisco Bulls.  Heemskerk began his professional career in 2011-12 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a record of 13-12-0 along with a 3.27 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 25 games.

Heemskerk turned pro after four years in the major junior Western Hockey League. In his final WHL season, he finished second in the league in minutes (3,841), third in saves (2041) and fifth in wins (36) while recording a 2.94 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in 65 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The 2010-11 season was the second straight campaign during which Heemskerk landed among the league leaders. In 2009-10, while tending goal for the Everett Silvertips, he topped the Western League in save percentage (.927), finished third in goals against average (2.34) and was tied for seventh in shutouts (4) while going 24-12-4 in 42 games. Heemskerk's efforts helped the Silvertips earn a share of the United States Division title. Heemskerk joined Everett midway through the 2008-09 season after spending his first year and a half in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice.

The Mallards next play at home Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Allen Americans.  That game is a Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's.  If the Mallards win Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' next Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's.  After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.

Tickets for Wednesday night's 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.

MOLINE, Ill. (January 31, 2014) - Vladimir Nikiforov scored the winning goal with 4:52 left in the third period as the host Quad City Mallards came from behind to defeat the Tulsa Oilers 2-1 Friday night.  With the victory, the Mallards (19-9-8, 46 points) extended their regulation unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1) while the Oilers (19-22-3, 41) suffered a third straight regulation defeat and saw their winless streak stretch to six games (0-5-1).

Nikiforov snapped a 1-1 tie with a wrist shot from the right wing circle after the Mallards' Jeff Lee had evened the score with a wrister from the left wing circle at 2:37 of the third.

The Mallards found themselves in need of a comeback after Adam Pleskach's breakaway power play goal gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead at 1:47 of the second period.

The Mallards return to action tomorrow night in Missouri against the Mavericks.  The Mallards next play at home next Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Allen Americans.  That game is a Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's.  If the Mallards win next Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' next Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's.  After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.

Tickets for next Wednesday night's 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.

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