Heemskerk, Mallards Whitewash Chill 5-0

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (January 4, 2014) - Thomas Heemskerk made 29 saves on the way to his second shutout of the season and Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel scored twice as the Quad City Mallards whitewashed the host St. Charles Chill 5-0 Saturday night.

The Mallards pulled away with four third period goals after Dieude-Fauvel opened the scoring by ripping the puck home from the left wing circle at 6:27 of the second period.

Nick Grasso tipped in the second Mallard goal at 2:19 of the third period.  Dieude-Fauvel rifled in his second from the high slot at to stretch the gap to 3-0 at 6:34 of the third.  The Mallards would finish off the Chill with two goals in 35 seconds.  Gabriel Levesque steered in Gergo Nagy's centering pass at 14:24 to make it 4-0.  At 14:59 Jeff Lee capped off the win by burying a rebound.

Heemskerk was at his busiest in the third as the Mallards broke the game open despite being outshot 12-9 in the final frame.

The Mallards return to action on home ice next Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Brampton Beast.  That game is the Mallards' first Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's.  If the Mallards win a Wednesday night home game all in attendance win free tickets for the next Wednesday game.  In addition, $2 beer and hot dogs will be available during Wednesday night tilts.  After each Wednesday night game, fans can join the Mallards for a postgame party at T.G.I. Friday's next to the iWireless Center.

Streaks Snapped as Chill Rallies Past Mallards

MOLINE, Ill. (January 3, 2014) - Ryan Berard scored two goals- including the game winner- and Robbie Moss made 33 saves as the St. Charles Chill rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit to defeat the host Quad City Mallards 4-3 Friday night, halt the Mallards' five game winning streak and end their own seven-game losing streak.

Berard broke a 3-3 tie while toppling in the slot with 4:20 left in the third.  That goal capped off a St. Charles comeback that started when, with the Chill shorthanded, a pair of Mallards combined to turn the puck over to Nicklas Lindberg beside the empty Quad City net and Lindberg duly snapped it into the gaping cage to trim the gap to 3-1 at the 6:39 mark of the third.  St. Charles was on the power play when John Snowden scored the tying goal from the left wing circle at 13:03.

The Mallards had seemingly taken control with second period goals from Gergo Nagy and Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel.  Nagy fired a loose puck home from the low slot to snap a 1-1 deadlock at 8:18 of the second.  With just 50 seconds left in the period and each team down a man, Dieude-Fauvel widened the margin to a pair with a wrist shot from the high slot.

It was the Mallards who initially came from behind after Berard opened the scoring from the side of the net at 3:37 of the first period.  Jim McKenzie's point-blank power play strike knotted the score just under five minutes later and proved to be the first of three straight Mallard goals, but, backstopped by a 16-save third period from Moss, the Chill would respond in kind in the final frame to claim the dramatic victory.   

The Mallards' defeat dampened celebrations on what was a milestone evening for the man behind their bench.  Tonight's game was Quad City boss Terry Ruskowski's twelve hundredth as a head coach in professional hockey.

The Mallards and Chill meet again tomorrow night in St. Charles.  The Mallards return to action on home ice next Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Brampton Beast.  That game is the Mallards' first Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's.  If the Mallards win a Wednesday night home game all in attendance win free tickets for the next Wednesday game.  In addition, $2 beer and hot dogs will be available during Wednesday night tilts.  After each Wednesday night game, fans can join the Mallards for a postgame party at T.G.I. Friday's next to the iWireless Center.

Tickets for next Wednesday night's game and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

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 in the midst of their seventeenth season and 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 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. 

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal today announced they have made a friendly wager on the Outback Bowl aimed at helping feed the hungry in Iowa and Louisiana. The 2014 Outback Bowl featuring the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers will be played on January 1, 2014, in Tampa, FL.

If the Iowa Hawkeyes beat the LSU Tigers, Gov. Jindal will donate 100 pounds of Louisiana seafood to an Iowa food bank and another 100 pounds of Louisiana seafood to a Louisiana food bank. If the LSU Tigers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes, Gov. Branstad will donate 100 pounds of Iowa pork to a Louisiana food bank and another 100 pounds of Iowa pork to an Iowa food bank.

"In the spirit of friendly competition, I'm pleased to join Governor Jindal in this friendly wager which aims to help feed the less fortunate in our states," said Branstad.  "As a life-long Iowan and a graduate of the University of Iowa, I'm looking forward to watching the Hawkeyes compete against the Louisiana State University Tigers and bring home a victory at the Outback Bowl in Tampa."

"I am looking forward to a great game between the Tigers and the Hawkeyes, and I am thrilled to make this friendly wager with Governor Branstad to benefit the hungry in both states," said Jindal.  "It is always a little sad to see the end of the college football season, but I am very proud of this LSU Tigers team and I know they will finish the season with a victory."

The Deb & Jeff Hansen Iowa Select Farms Foundation has committed to donating the Iowa pork.  Iowa taxpayer dollars will not be used for the friendly wager. The 2014 Outback Bowl airs on ESPN at noon.

THIS WEEK
Monday, December 30, 6:10 p.m.
Powerade Centre, Brampton
Quad City Mallards vs. Brampton Beast

Friday, January 3, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
St. Charles Chill vs. Quad City Mallards

Saturday, January 4, 7:05 p.m.
Family Arena, St. Charles
Quad City Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill

LAST WEEK
Friday, December 27
Quad City 5 Brampton 4

Saturday, December 28
Quad City 3 Brampton 2 (OT)

Quad City
14-6-5 (33 points)
5th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Brampton
14-13-2 (30 points)
7th place
Coach: Mark DeSantis

QUACK TRACKS
Last Week
The Mallards rallied from 2-0 deficits Friday and Saturday to claim a pair of come from behind wins in Brampton.

Streaking
Saturday night's win was the Mallards fourth in a row. Their current winning streak is the Mallards' longest of the season. The Mallards have won their last four games after losing their prior three.

Climbing
Saturday night's Mallard win combined with Denver's overtime loss in Arizona enabled the Mallards to move out of a tie with the Cutthroats and into sole possession of fifth place. With a win tonight in Bramtpon the Mallards would leapfrog Allen and Tulsa and take over third place.

Sudden Death
Darren McMillan's goal 36 seconds into overtime Saturday night gave the Mallards their first sudden death victory of the season. The Mallards are 1-1 in games decided in overtime. Their overtime loss came at the hands of the Beast of December 7. The Mallards were no doubt happy to avoid the shootout Saturday evening having gone 1-4 in the shootout on the season.

Playing the Percentages
The Mallards, who have played fewer games (25) than any other CHL club, boast the league's third best winning percentage (.660).

On the Road
The Mallards have won three straight road games- their longest away winning streak of the season. With Saturday night's win, the Mallards have also moved over .500 (5-4-4) on the road this season.

Home Sweet Home
The Mallards are unbeaten in regulation (7-0-1) in their last eight home games. They have not suffered a regulation loss at the iWireless Center since being edged 4-3 by Brampton on November 2.

Goals, Goals, Goals
The Mallards have scored three goals or fewer in nine of their last ten games. On the season, the Mallards rank fourth in the league in goals per game (3.6) despite the fact no Mallard ranks in the top 25 in the CHL in points.

Little Big Man
Gabriel Levesque has scored four goals (and added an assist) in his last five games and has scored five times totaled eight points in his last eight games.

Leaders
Among rookies, Thomas Frazee is tied for second in assists (14), ranks third in points (21) and ranks seventh in goals (7)...Thomas Heemskerk and Ty Rimmer are tied for seventh in goals against average (2.76) while Heemskerk ranks seventh in save percentage (.911) and Rimmer eighth (.910).

Milestones
Matt Boyd last Friday in Brampton played his two hundredth career game...McMillan has collected 96 career CHL assists.

Special Teams
The Mallards rank last in the CHL in power play efficiency (12.3 percent). They have converted just one of their last 33 man advantage and just two of their last 49. The Mallards rank fourth in penalty killing (84.3 percent) after killing off 14 of their opponents' last 15 power plays. They are tied for third in shorthanded goals (5).

Head to Head
By winning each of the first two games of their three game series in Brampton, the Mallards have improved to 4-1-1 against the Beast this season. The Mallards have rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win in each of their last three games against the Beast, a comeback streak that started with a 3-2 victory on home ice on December 8. The Mallards have gone 4-0-1 against Brampton since losing their first ever meeting with the Beast on November 2. Gergo Nagy (3-5-8) and Jim McKenzie (3-5-8) are the top point scorers in the season series.

NEXT HOME GAME
Friday, January 3, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
$1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday Presented by 97X
January 3 is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X. $1 hot dogs and $1 beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.

ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance.  Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net.  A limited number of Mallards games- including tonight's- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football.  Free audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com.  CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.  For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to

TICKETS
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available.  Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 orinfo@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.  Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great group benefits.  Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events.  For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.

BRAMPTON, Ontario (December 27, 2013) - Gabriel Levesque and Mike Monfredo both provided a goal and an assist and Thomas Heemskerk made 28 saves as the Quad City Mallards defeated the host Brampton Beast 5-4 Friday night.

The Mallards turned the game in their favor with three unanswered second period goals. Levesque finished off a give-and-go with Matt Boyd from point-blank range to deadlock the contest at three at 3:12 of the second period. Monfredo gave the Mallards'their first lead by knocking in Jim McKenzie's centering feed at 9:20 of the second. Mike Hellyer's tip-in stretched the Mallard lead to 5-3 and chased Brampton starting goaltender Grant Rollheiser from the game at 15:18.

Hellyer's goal would stand up as the game winner after Scott Howes scored his second of the evening from the slot to cut the Mallard lead to 5-4 at 18:22 of the third period. Heemskerk and his teammates had to hang on for the win after the Beast pulled relief goalie Kristofer Westblom in favor an extra attacker and poured on the pressure late in regulation.

The Mallards were in need of a second period rally after the Beast emerged from a wild first period with a 3-2 lead. Brampton's Matt Caruana buried Andrew Fournier's centering pass to open the scoring at 6:29 of the first. The Beast lead doubled when Howes tipped the puck home just 57 seconds later.

The Mallards responded to the early Brampton onslaught by battling back to tie the game. Levesque sent Jeff Lee down the slot alone and Lee snapped in the first Mallard goal at 8:26 of the first- exactly one minute after the second Brampton goal. At 11:55 Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel's blue line blast evened the score at two, but Josh McQuade's wrist shot from the top of the left wing circle would put the Beast back on top at the 15:53 mark.

The Mallards return to action tomorrow night in Brampton. The Mallards next play at home Friday January 3 at 7:05 p.m. against the Chill. January 3 is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X. $1 hot dogs and $1 beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.

Tickets for the January 3 game and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

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 and 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 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.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -