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 and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

Andy Yohe and Kevin McKee helped lead sled hockey team to victory over Russia

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today applauded two Quad City area Paralympians for their gold medal win in sled hockey at the Paralympics held in Sochi, Russia. Sled hockey team members Andy Yohe of Bettendorf and Kevin McKee of Davenport helped lead the team throughout the games and win the gold medal in a match against Russia. Both Yohe and McKee began playing sled hockey at the Quad City Sled Hockey Association (TQCSHA).  The TQCSHA, which was founded by Joe and Sue Lambert, gives people living with disabilities in the Quad Cities area a chance to pursue their dreams

"I join with everyone in the Quad Cities in being tremendously proud of Andy and Kevin's achievements. Their gold medal win and selection as members of Team USA are a testament to their outstanding character, hard-work, and determination. This is an impressive accomplishment and truly an inspiration to people of all abilities.

"I also want to thank Joe and Sue Lambert of Davenport, who founded the Quad City Sled Hockey Association and have given so many people living with disabilities a chance to succeed in sport and life."

DES MOINES, IA (03/17/2014)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair invites all community and youth groups, special interest clubs and businesses to join the fun and enter the State Fair Parade, Iowa's largest parade and the kick-off to the Fair. The parade is set for Wednesday, August 6. The "Amazingly Amusing" 2014 Iowa State Fair runs August 7-17.

Applications are available at www.iowastatefair.org/fair-attractions/parade or by contacting Tonya Cook at 515/262-3111 ext. 215 or tcook@iowastatefair.org. There is a $25 fee for each parade entry. Entries postmarked later than July 1 must include a $15 late fee. No entries will be accepted after July 15.

Entries will be judged and winners will receive plaques in each of the following categories: best use of Fair theme, best specialty group, most creative/original, Governor's Cup (best overall marching band), marching band (by class), best performance, best horses and best drum line.

The parade will begin at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines. Spectators will be able to watch an estimated 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty and performing units. Staging will take place at the State Capitol Complex. Parade entrants will then travel west on Grand Avenue to 13th Street. Dispersion will take place between 13th and 18th Streets.

Highlights of the gala event will be re-broadcast on parade night throughout central Iowa on KDSM FOX 17 beginning at 10 p.m. To be considered for television coverage, the description information on the application must be completed and returned. Due to the length of the parade, it is not possible for all entries to be televised.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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MOLINE, Ill. (March 13, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards' Ty Rimmer has been named one of five finalists for the Central Hockey League Most Outstanding Goaltender award while the Mallards' Thomas Frazee has been named a finalist for the CHL's Rookie of the Year award and Quad City's Nicholas Rioux has been selected as a finalist for the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman honor, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Rimmer, a 21-year old rookie, has gone 17-11-4 in 34 games this season and is tied for third in the league in shutouts (3), ranks sixth in goals against average (2.76) and save percentage (.910) and ranks seventh in wins.  The 6' 1", 170-pound Edmonton native is in the midst of a four game winning streak and has gone 7-1-0 in his last ten games.

Rimmer played three American Hockey League games for the Oklahoma City Barons in December, going 1-0-1 with a 2.65 goals against average and a .930 save percentage during his AHL call-up.  Rimmer was also named CHL Rookie of the Month for December.

In preseason, Rimmer participated in not only the Barons' training camp but also the camp of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.

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 Western Hockey League.  Rimmer last season 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.

Among CHL rookies, the 23-year old Frazee is tied for third in points (37), ranks fourth in goals (18) and ranks sixth in assists (19).  Frazee, who has turned in a plus/minus rating of +8 in 49 games, also ranks third in the overall in shorthanded goals (3).  The 6' 3", 210-pound North Vancouver product was named CHL Rookie of the Month for November.

Frazee last year scored seven goals and totaled 22 points in 16 games for Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Frazee first arrived at Lakehead midway through the 2011-12 season, a campaign Frazee began with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors.  Frazee scored once and picked up three assists in 13 games as a Condor before making the move to the university ranks.

Frazee spent five-plus seasons in the major junior Western Hockey League, skating for the Portland Winter Hawks, Medicine Hat Tigers, Moose Jaw Warriors, Regina Pats and Kamloops Blazers between 2006 and 2011.  Frazee's final junior campaign was his most productive.  He scored 31 goals and notched 72 points in 70 games while splitting the 2010-11 season between Regina and Kamloops.  In all, Frazee recorded 72 goals and 188 points in 313 career WHL games.

Rioux, 27, has scored five goals and totaled 25 points while posting a plus/minus rating of +7 in 48 games with the Mallards this season.  The 6' 1", 205 pound native of Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, also played six games over two January stints with the AHL's Iowa Wild. 

Last year, Rioux scored seven goals and registered 27 points with a plus/minus of +3 for the CHL's Bloomington Blaze.  The durable blue liner played in each of the Blaze's 66 regular season games last season and missed just a single game over his first two professional campaigns.

Rioux first played under Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski as a rookie with the CHL's Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in 2011-12.  Rioux scored five times, produced 21 points and turned in a plus/minus of +5 in 65 games with the Killer Bees.

Rioux turned pro after a three-year college career at St. Cloud State during which he totaled three goals and four assists in 26 games. Rioux played two seasons of junior hockey in the British Columbia League- with the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings- before heading to St. Cloud.

This is the second season in a row a trio of Mallards have been nominated for year-end CHL honors.  Last spring Mickey Lang (Most Valuable Player), Mike Hellyer (Rookie of the Year) and Matt Duffy (Most Outstanding Defenseman) were all award finalists, with Hellyer taking home the hardware.