Ruskowski Voted Best Coach, Mallards Hardest Working Team
Nagy Recognized as Most Underrated
Mallards Among Top Three in 13 Categories
MOLINE, Ill. (March 19, 2014) - Quad City Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski has been voted the Central Hockey League's best coach and the Mallards have recognized as the league's hardest working team while Mallards forward Gergo Nagy has been tapped as the CHL's most underrated player in the CHL's annual "Best of the Best" poll of players, coaches and operations staff, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.
In all the Mallards finished in the top three in 13 different on- and off-ice categories.
Ruskowski has piloted the Mallards to a 28-20-10 record and 66 points over 58 games this season. The Mallards, who are in sixth place in the CHL, are on course to claim a playoff berth for the second time in as many seasons under Ruskowski. The veteran bench boss has gone 651-462-118 over the course of his 19-year professional head-coaching career. Ruskowski has posted a record of 437-248-79 over 12 years in the CHL and in November moved into third place in league history in career coaching wins.
The Mallards have been voted the league's hardest working team for the second time in their four seasons in the CHL and have now finished either first or second in that category each of the last four years. The Mallards came in second in the voting for hardest working team both last season and in 2011-12 after finishing first in 2010-11.
Nagy has scored 18 goals and picked up 30 assists for 48 points while posting a plus/minus rating of +14 in 56 games with the Mallards this season. He is tied for second in the CHL in shorthanded goals (3). Nagy earlier this month made his American Hockey League debut with the Chicago Wolves.
Nagy is not the only Mallard player recognized in the Best of the Best poll. Vladimir Nikiforov, who has scored 11 times and totaled 36 points in 55 games this season, was voted the league's second fastest skater while Thomas Frazee finished third in the best rookie voting. Among first year players, Frazee ranks fourth in goals (20), fifth in points (39) and eighth in assists (19). He is also tied for second overall in shorthanded goals (3). Frazee has registered a plus/minus of +6 in 52 games.
The Mallards have also been recognized for off-ice excellence. The team's fans have obviously made an impression on opposing players, who- for the second straight season- voted them the third most annoying in the CHL while the iWireless Center was voted the third most difficult building in which to win. As hostile as its environment has been for visiting teams, the iWireless Center has certainly proven welcoming to fans- the Mallards' home finished third in voting for best concessions.
A pair of longtime Mallard stalwarts are also among those honored. For the second consecutive year, Mo Mallard finished second in the polling for best mascot while Guy Perry was voted the league's second best public address announcer. There is league wide recognition as well for Mallard newcomers- still in their first season, the Mallards' Bud Light Ice Girls finished third in voting for best cheerleaders/dance team.
The Mallard received high marks for artistic impression. The club's logo was voted third best in the league. After being revamped at the start of this season, myqcmallards.net finished third in voting for best website.
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.net. Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards
