MOLINE, Ill. (January 2, 2014) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Ty Rimmer has been named 50/50 Central Central Hockey League Rookie of the Month for December, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Rimmer, 21, went 3-2-0 with a 2.01 goals against average, a .938 save percentage and one shutout in five games- all on the road- with the Mallards last month.  Rimmer's goals against average and save percentage were the best for the month among CHL goaltenders who played at least three games.

December also saw Rimmer earn a call-up to the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons, for whom he went 1-0-1 while posting a 2.65 goals against average and a .930 save percentage in three games.

Rimmer collected his first career shutout immediately upon returning to the Mallards from the AHL.  The Edmonton native set a league single game season high for saves (48) and made more saves in one game than any Mallard netminder has in the club's four CHL seasons while whitewashing the Rapid City Rush 2-0 on December 13.  The 6' 1", 170-pound Rimmer went on to finish 2013 on a high note by winning his last two starts of the year.  He stopped 23 shots in a 3-1 defeat of the St. Charles Chill on December 22 and made 29 saves as the Mallards rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory over the Brampton Beast last Saturday night.

Rimmer's strong work in recent days has been a key ingredient in the Mallards' current hot streak.  Quad City (15-6-5, 35 points) finished 2013 on a five-game winning streak- the club's longest so far this season- to climb from to seventh to fourth place in the CHL standings.

Rimmer, who has gone 7-5-2 in 14 games this season, is tied for seventh in the league in save percentage (.910) and ranks eighth in goals against average (2.76). 

Rimmer joined the Mallards this season after skating in the training camp of both the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and the AHL's Barons.  Rimmer got his first taste of professional hockey last spring when he played one game for the AHL's Manchester Monarchs after completing his junior career with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL.  Last season he led the WHL in minutes played (3,836) and total saves (2,106) while posting 3.19 goals against average, a .912 save percentage, a record of 24-30-10 and one shutout in 65 games with the Hurricanes.   

The 2011-12 campaign was especially successful for Rimmer, who earned WHL First Team All-Star honors after leading the league in goals against average (2.43) and save percentage (.922), finishing tied for first in shutouts (5) and finishing tied for eighth in wins while going 31-12-1 in 46 games for the Tri-City Americans.  His standout efforts helped propel the Americans to the United States Division title.

Over three-plus Western League seasons- during which he also played for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Prince George Cougars in addition to the Americans and Hurricanes- Rimmer went 74-65-14 in 159 games and turned in a 3.01 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and ten shutouts.  Before becoming a WHL workhorse, Rimmer spent parts of two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the St. Albert Steel and Bonnyville Pontiacs.

The red hot Mallards return to action on home ice tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. against St. Charles.  Tomorrow evening is another $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.

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 in the midst of their seventeenth season and 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 i wireless 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.

Giertz will serve as campaign spokesperson effective Monday, January 6

DES MOINES, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley announced today that Jeff Giertz will serve as communications director for his 2014 US Senate campaign, effective Monday, January 6, 2014.

"Jeff is a smart and capable communicator with deep Iowa roots and years of campaign experience," Braley said. "He's a terrific addition to my campaign team as we work to spread our message of creating jobs, helping small businesses succeed, and fighting for middle class Iowans."

Giertz, a native of the Quad Cities, first worked for Braley during his successful 2006 Congressional campaign and then served as Braley's communications director during his first two terms in Congress until October 2009.  After his departure, Giertz worked for US Rep. Charlie Melancon's 2010 bid for US Senate in Louisiana and for the North Carolina Senate Democratic Caucus before returning to work as Braley's communications director in September 2011. Giertz also managed Braley's successful 2012 re-election campaign. 

He is a 2005 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Giertz can be reached at jeff@brucebraley.com and (319) 830-6666 (cell).

DES MOINES, IA (01/02/2014)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants to encourage families to start their New Year off with a bang by considering a contribution to a loved one's future education. "With the New Year, comes an increased Iowa state income tax deduction when making contributions to College Savings Iowa," Fitzgerald said. "Iowa taxpayers are now able to deduct the first $3,098 they contribute per child on their 2014 state taxes.* What better way to start off a new year than with an early deduction off of your taxes?"

College Savings Iowa is the state sponsored college savings plan that allows participants to start saving on behalf of a future scholar. "One of the best features of College Savings Iowa is how easy it is to get started," continued Fitzgerald. "All you need is $25 and ten minutes of your time to start saving for a loved one's future educational expenses. I encourage all families to save whatever they can today to help offset what has to be borrowed in the future.

College Savings Iowa lets parents, grandparents, friends and relatives invest for college on behalf of a future scholar. Investors in the plan can withdraw their investment tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses. These expenses include tuition, books, supplies and room and board at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.** While participants do not need to be an Iowa resident to invest in the plan, they do need to be an Iowa taxpayer to take advantage of the Iowa income tax deduction.

"By starting early, saving a little at a time and making smart investment choices, you could make 2014 a year to never forget," Fitzgerald said. "Not only will you get a tax deduction, but this could be the year you take that first step towards helping a loved one start financing the path to the rest of their life."

. To stay up to date on current giveaways and events, connect with the Plan on Facebook and Twitter (@Iowa529Plan).

*If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. Amount adjusted annually for inflation.

**Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax on the earnings, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116, or visit collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa state treasurer's office. The treasurer of the state of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the treasurer with marketing and distributing the plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.