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
