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.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will have a member of his staff in Clinton County for open office hours. Henry Marquard, Loebsack's District Representative, will be at the following locations. Marquard will be on hand to work with individuals who are having difficulty with a government agency, have suggestions for Dave, or would just like to share their concerns. Members of the public are invited to attend. Marquard holds regular office hours throughout Eastern Iowa.

If residents are unable to attend but have a concern to share with the Congressman, please call our district office toll-free at 1-866-914-IOWA (4692).

Marquard's schedule is as follows.

Tuesday, Jan. 13

Camanche City Hall

917 Third Street

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Clinton City Hall

611 South Third Street, 1^st Floor

It is not about what political party a member Congress belongs to, it is about accountability for government to do what is right.  The Blue Water Navy Agent Orange Act has failed.  House Bill HR-543 was stalled in the VA committee even though there were 258 co-sponsors in support of the Bill enough for a House vote. 

More Vietnam vets will die, many cannot pay medical expenses some are forced to take second mortgages on their homes or sell their homes.  Does Congress care, most do not.  However we vets do have a few caring friends in Congress, they are a minority.       

There are those in Congress so full of greed to fill their own pockets for the next election rather than provide proper VA benefits to our veterans who come home sick and broken.  This is especially true of the Vietnam War veterans.  With the 2014 Congress in session will our Vietnam veterans be once more denied what they have earned?  The dollars needed for VA benefits is a trifle amount compared to the hundreds of billions we give away.  Perhaps our Congress should serve on the front lines in war let them know how it feels to dodge bullets and be sprayed with herbicides.

In time of war the enemy does not care about race, creed, or political party.  Our Congress discriminates against those who served our Country, there is no accountability.  To our Members of Congress, in ten more years there will be no Vietnam vets left living for you to contend with, what a shameful legacy

It is no secret to cattle operators that health status of cattle dramatically impacts profit/loss margins, and thus sustainability for the enterprise. With the price of calves now at record highs, keeping one's cattle healthy may be the difference between hedging a profit and absorbing a large financial loss. Both cattle health and profits in the beef industry will be addressed at the Driftless Region Beef Conference in Dubuque Jan. 22-23.

Featured speaker Mark Hilton, DVM and clinical professor of beef production medicine at Purdue University, will help producers explore improving the health of feedlot cattle. One way is through his presentation, "Ensuring feedlot health -- Where does it all begin?"

The importance of health throughout the life cycle, from fetal programming to slaughter, will be highlighted "because everything impacts health," Hilton said.

Hilton is a trusted resource for all things related to animal health in the beef industry, and is well known as a regular contributor to Beef Magazine, authoring feature articles and serving as an expert on the Vet's Opinion blog.

Hilton will add to the conference discussion on health issues with a breakout session on the second day. He'll highlight the value of a solid preconditioning program to the cow-calf operation's bottom line. Because many producers may question the value of a preconditioning program in a market like the current one, he will outline why the "preconditioning bonus" plays only a minor role in the overall profitability of a well-executed preconditioning program.

Conference attendees also can learn about enhancing profitability and reinvesting beef operation profits in sessions presented by Lee Schulz, Iowa State University extension livestock economist.

He'll describe and explain the use of decision tools to enhance profitability of the beef enterprise in one session, followed by a presentation on strategies for reinvesting profits from the beef operation.

The ability of beef producers to grasp the profitability and overall risk situation of their operations and broader industry trends is critical for long-term business success. The size of the U.S. beef cow herd is at historically low levels and prospects for national herd expansion continue to grow. However, producers who are considering expansion need to make sound decisions to make sure their operations are economically sustainable and well positioned to succeed. In addition, opportunities exist for integration of young producers and future generations into cattle production, but these individuals need knowledge and tools to help them thrive in the industry.

To hear more about these as well as other timely topics presented by prominent figures in the beef industry, producers are encouraged to register soon for the Driftless Beef Conference that runs from 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22 through 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. The Thursday afternoon program focuses on improving efficiency and profitability of beef production in the upper Midwest, followed by an evening discussion focused on opportunities to capitalize on the diversity in the beef industry. The Friday morning agenda includes four breakout sessions each for feedlot operations and cow-calf producers.

The early registration fee for the conference is $85 per person and must be received prior to midnight, Jan. 14. The price increases to $115 after that date. More information about the conference, including topics, speakers, and lodging is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/beef.

The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. The planning team strives to deliver the latest in research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab, ISU Extension Beef Specialist, at 319-721-9624.

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