MOLINE, Ill. (August 27, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards have entered into an affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Mallards announced today.

"We are excited to announce a new affiliation agreement with the Quad City Mallards," said Minnesota Wild assistant general manager and Iowa Wild general manager Jim Mill.  "The Quad Cities area is a great hockey market and provides the Minnesota Wild organization with another first-class option to develop our players."

Under the affiliation agreement, the Mallards will serve as a resource for the development efforts and personnel needs of both the Iowa and Minnesota Wild.  The agreement allows for Wild prospects to be assigned to the Mallards for developmental purposes throughout the season.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to work with both the Minnesota and Iowa Wild," said Mallards president Bob McNamara.  "The Wild is a strong organization and we are pleased they have recognized the Mallards and coach [Terry] Ruskowski can be valuable assets for their player development system.  We are looking forward not only to working with Wild prospects and playing our part in their development but also to giving the fans of the Quad Cities the opportunity to see those players take the ice for the Mallards."

The Minnesota Wild first took the ice in 2000 and has since proven to be a model of consistency, posting winning records in nine of the last ten seasons.  The Iowa Wild is approaching the start of its first AHL campaign.

The Mallards will open their seventeenth season- and their fourth in the Central Hockey League- when they host the Rapid City Rush on Saturday night, October 19.  Mallards 2013-14 season tickets as well as half season tickets and flex packs are now on sale.  The Mallards offer ticket packages to meet any budget and season ticket holders also receive a host of additional benefits, including a unique season ticket holder Mallards jersey.  More ticket package information is available by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or emailing info@myqcmallards.com.

About the Quad City Mallards
The Quad City Mallards are approaching their seventeenth season and their fourth in the Central Hockey League (CHL).  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League (UHL) from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League (IHL) 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. 

New Law Lowers Compulsory School Age from Seven to Six Years Old

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law that lowers the compulsory school age for students in Illinois in order to ensure all children have the opportunity to build a solid foundation for academic achievement. The law will also help to combat truancy. Research shows that children who start school at an earlier age are less likely to drop out of school, be placed in special education or commit crimes, and more likely to attend college. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to prepare every child for success in college, career and beyond.

"Today is a good day for our students and for the future of Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "The key to so many things in life is a quality education and this new law will ensure our students get an early start on their academic success."

Sponsored by State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester) and State Representative LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), Senate Bill 1307 lowers the compulsory school attendance age from seven to six years of age beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Illinois joins 26 states that have set the compulsory attendance age at six years old. Eight states and the District of Columbia require students to begin school at age five. The law will also help to combat truancy.

Under the new law, any student turning six years old on or before Sept. 1 must be enrolled to attend school for that school year, starting in 2014. This legislation was introduced in part due to investigative reporting by the Chicago Tribune.

"Study after study has demonstrated that the earlier kids start school, the more likely they are to succeed," Senator Lightford said. "This law will help make sure all of our children are on the right path."

"This law will help children to develop the social and academic skills that will give them a better chance at success in the future," Representative Ford said. "It will also help to give children from disadvantaged backgrounds an equal opportunity to excel in the classroom. The early developmental stages are critical in a person's life, and Illinois cannot afford to put early education on the back burner."

The law will go into effect on July 1, 2014.

Honors the Courage of All Who Marched at Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the historic March on Washington which led to the passage of major civil rights reforms for the United States. At Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History, Governor Quinn reminded celebrants that the battle for social justice often requires direct action, and that those who "voted with their feet" in 1963 showed unparalleled courage and patriotism.

"Without 250,000 Americans peacefully gathering 50 years ago today under Abraham Lincoln's watchful eye, Congress might not have passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act or the 1965 Voting Rights Act," Governor Quinn said. "Today, we honor all who marched and remember the everlasting words that Dr. Martin Luther King has left us."

The March on Washington is known as one of the largest demonstrations for human rights in the nation's history. The march called for meaningful civil and economic rights reform and took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1963. It was there that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the historically significant "I Have a Dream" speech.

Governor Quinn will later attend the 7th Annual Civil Rights Game at Cellular Field, where the Chicago White Sox will take on the Texas Rangers. The Civil Rights Game - and the accompanying Major League Baseball Beacon Awards Luncheon - helps honor those who fought for equality both on and off the playing field.

Quad Cities moves within 4 ½ games of Cedar Rapids and reduces playoff magic number to 3

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 23, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits rallied from a 2-1, sixth-inning deficit with two-out RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings by left fielder Danry Vasquez and right fielder Jordan Scottm respectively, to overtake the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a second straight game with a 3-2 victory in front of 6,913 at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

The River Bandits (35-24 second half, 73-55 overall) moved within 4 ½ games of the first-place Kernels (40-20, 80-48) in the Midwest League Western Division second-half standings. With a loss by the Peoria Chiefs Friday and 10 games remaining in the regular season, Quad Cities' magic number (any combination of Quad Cities wins and Peoria losses) to clinch a second-half playoff berth is three.

Cedar Rapids out-hit Quad Cities, 8-5, for a third straight game and also scored first for a third straight night. In the second inning against River Bandits left-hander Joe Bircher, Kernels right fielder Adam Brett Walker hit a leadoff single. A wild pitch allowed Walker to move up two bases, and catcher Bo Altobelli drove home the run with a single to left field.

Quad Cities tied the game in the third inning against Kernels right-hander Hudson Boyd (4-5). Catcher Jobduan Morales drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single by designated hitter Tony Kemp.

Cedar Rapids retook the lead in the sixth, as center fielder Jonathan Murphy hit a leadoff triple and scored on a one-out error by second baseman Austin Elkins. After Walker singled to put runners at first and third, Bircher got first baseman Mike Gonzales to hit into a fielder's choice at home. Bircher was removed after 5 2/3 innings with seven hits allowed, two earned runs and two strikeouts.

Right-hander Andrew Walter (1-0) struck out Altobelli to end the sixth inning and retired seven straight batters while his teammates took the lead. Walker led off the ninth with a single, but Walter got a forceout on a bunt attempt, strikeout and flyout to end the game. He completed 3 1/3 innings with one hit allowed and five strikeouts. Quad Cities pitchers did not walk a batter for second straight game.

In the sixth, center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a one-out single and moved to second on a groundout, before Vasquez singled to center field for the game-tying run. In the seventh, Elkins was hit by a pitch with one out, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on Scott's single to center. Boyd allowed four hits and three earned runs in season-high seven innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Friday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount Saturday, Aug. 24. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Quad Cities begins a four-game series in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. River Bandits left-hander Brian Holmes (4-3) will start against Bees right-hander Pat Lowery (4-8).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits' final homestand of the regular season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 31, with a Dallas Clark Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Barrel House 211 and CBS4 when gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Fireworks will also follow the game. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.