Contest Open to Fans 12 and Under

MOLINE, Ill. (October 23, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards will host a Halloween costume contest for fans 12 and under this Saturday night when the Mallards take on the St. Charles Chill at 7:05 p.m. at the iWireless Center, the Mallards announced today.

Young fans attending Saturday night's game- the Mallards' final tilt at the iWireless Center before Halloween- are encouraged to deck themselves out in the most frightening or funny or downright outlandish Halloween costumes they can come up with.  The most outstanding costumes will be selected to enter the first intermission contest from which the overall winner will be selected.  The winning contestant will receive a Mallard prize package.

Tickets for Saturday's game and all other Mallards regular season home games are now on sale at Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com, through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000 or at the iWireless Center ticket office.  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.

Mallards ticket packages- including the affordable and convenient 10-Game Flex Pack- are also still available.  The Mallards offer packages to meet virtually any budget and schedule.  More ticket package information is available by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or emailing info@myqcmallards.com.

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. 

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It's time for American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim classes at Camp Courageous. Lessons are held Monday to Friday after school beginning December 2, 2013.

Transportation is provided to and from Monticello schools at the end of the school day (approximately 3:20 pm - 4:15 pm). Each session includes 8 - 10 lessons. Cost is $50 per child per session ($45 without transportation).

Level 1: Water Exploration - Children learn basics of swimming: bobbing, floating in prone & supine positions, gliding in prone & supine position flutter kick in prone & supine positions, front crawl, basic safety rules, & jumping in.
Level 2: Primary Skills - Children should already be able to: float on front & back and put head under water. Children will work on: floating, gliding, flutter kick, front crawl, back crawl, turning over from front to back and back to front, retrieving object, and jumping into deep water.
Level 3: Stroke Readiness - Children should already be able to: swim front & back crawl. Children will work on: gliding, front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, retrieving object, treading water, jumping into deep water, kneeling dive, and compact dive.
Level 4: Stroke Development - Children should already be able to: swim front & back crawl 10 yards, elementary backstroke, and dive in kneeling and compact position. Children will work on: deep water bobbing, rotary breathing, front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, scissors kick & side stroke, whip kick & breaststroke, intro to turning at wall, treading water with modified scissors, breaststroke, rotary kicks, and diving in stride & standing positions.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement -Children should already be able to: swim front & back crawl 25 yards, elementary backstroke 10 yards, scissors kick, whip kick, treading water, & diving. Children will work on: alternate breathing, stride jump, long shallow dive, front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, side stroke, breaststroke, dolphin kick & butterfly, open turn on front & back, feet-first surface dive, & treading water.
Level 6: Children should already be able to: swim front & back crawl 50 yds, elementary backstroke 25 yards, breaststroke 25 yards, butterfly 25 yards, side stroke 10 yards, tread water 3 minutes, & dive. Children will work on: All six strokes, front and back crawl flip turn, breast stroke turn, breaststroke speed turn and pullout, butterfly turn, side stroke turn, pike & tuck surface dive, tread water 5 minutes, & basic water rescue.

After-School Sessions:
Session 1: 12/2/13 - 12/13/13 - Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 Session 16: May 11, 2014 Sunday 10am-5pm

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Former Hawkeye/NFL Stars On Hand to Celebrate Iowa's Farmers

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - October 21, 2013 - Since teaming up to raise awareness of the food and energy options that today's farmers provide through the America Needs Farmers (ANF) campaign, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the University of Iowa (U of I) Athletics Department have contributed more than $60,000 to the Iowa Food Bank Association through donations and sales of ANF merchandise. The third annual ANF Game Day will be celebrated at Kinnick Stadium October 26 against Northwestern.

During ANF Game Day, the U of I will enshrine former Hawkeye and Detroit Lions player, Jared DeVries, on the Wall of Honor in the ANF Plaza.  The ANF Plaza, located on the northwest side of Kinnick Stadium, will feature DeVries as its second inductee into the ANF Wall of Honor, joining former Hawkeye and Kansas City Chiefs player, Casey Wiegmann. "Jared is a great role model for other student athletes with a tremendous work ethic and a reputation for always striving to be his best," said Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz.  The ANF Wall of Honor recognizes former U of I student football athletes who exemplify the tenacity, work ethic and character of the Iowa farmer, qualities that have helped Iowa remain the leading agriculture state in the nation.

A key feature of the IFBF's Legends Tent at Krause Family Plaza will be an autograph session featuring former Hawkeye/NFL players including: Aaron Kampman, Robert Gallery, Brad Banks, and Jared DeVries.  Former Hawkeye and current Minnesota Vikings player Chad Greenway also joined the ANF team this year, but his NFL schedule won't allow him to join his former Hawkeye teammates on ANF Game Day.  "The importance of farmers is never going to go away.  The foundation of human nature is farming: being able to produce something from the land, being able to feed your family, feed your community, and feed the world," said Greenway.  "It's the backbone of America.  It's what we're all about.  It's the fabric of our being."

Iowa Hawkeyes fans and Iowa farmers agree that having NFL and Hawkeyes legends join the ANF team is a game-changer when it comes to sharing agriculture's message.  "We are honored to have these former Hawkeye greats support our cause," said Craig Hill, president of the IFBF.  "We understand that consumers today are interested in knowing more about their food and how it's grown or raised.  The ANF initiative is an opportunity to reach new audiences about today's farming and these players help us achieve that.  There may be fewer of us than when Coach Fry launched ANF during the 1985 Farm Crisis, but we are also more diverse and face new challenges meeting consumer demands."

In partnership with U of I Athletics and Hy-Vee, IFBF has organized the ANF Great Grocery Giveaway which invites Iowans to meet today's farmers through video tours of their farms, and register for a chance to win $5,000 in free groceries.  "There's a great story to tell and we invite you to visit www.americaneedsfarmers.org to learn more about your food and energy and the farm families who produce it, while having the opportunity to win free groceries for a year," said Hill.

In addition to the autograph session, the IFBF Legends Tent will also feature games like Tailgate Toss and Hi-Striker where visitors can interact with Iowa farmers and earn a chance to win ANF prizes, or participate in a drawing for autographed ANF items.  The tent will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the autograph session running from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

On ANF Game Day, ANF 'Farm Strong' merchandise will be available at Herky's Locker Room locations around the stadium. A portion of proceeds from the sale of ANF 'Farm Strong' merchandise goes to support the Iowa Food Banks.

ANF was first launched in 1985 during the height of the Farm Crisis by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry, who wanted to show an increasingly urban nation why agriculture matters.  For more information about the Iowa Farm Bureau/U of I ANF partnership, click on www.americaneedsfarmers.org. To learn more about the growing number of Iowans in need and how you can connect with your local food pantries, click on http://iowafba.org/.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

MOLINE, Ill. (October 16, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards have re-signed 2012-13 Central Hockey League Rookie of the Year Mike Hellyer and have waived forward Tyler Melancon, the Mallards announced today.                                                                       
"We're very happy to have Mike back.  He's a guy we're able to count on in every situation," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.  "He does a lot offensively but he's also someone we count on defensively so he's going to play a very important role for us this season."

Hellyer, a 27-year old forward, rejoins the Mallards after participating in training camp with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors.  Hellyer last season led CHL rookies in points (61), assists (38) and plus/minus rating (+15) and finished third among first year players in goals (23).  The 5' 9", 170-pound Brandon, Manitoba, native ranked second on the Mallards in points and assists and third in goals.  Hellyer was also named to the 2012-13 CHL All-Rookie Team.

A lower body injury suffered in the Mallards' playoff opener against the Fort Worth Brahmas last spring ended Hellyer's season slightly prematurely, but he has since made a full recovery.

Hellyer broke into professional hockey at the tail end of last of the 2011-12 season.  He played three regular season games that spring for both the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL and the CHL's Brahmas.  Hellyer went on to score three goals and pick up three assists in a dozen playoff games during the Brahmas' run to the Berry Conference finals.

Hellyer turned pro after spending five seasons at the University of Manitoba.  Last year he scored four times and collected 16 points in 25 games while captaining Manitoba to the Canada West University Athletic Association regular season title.  Over the course of his university career, Hellyer scored 36 times and produced 98 points in 135 games.  He served as team captain each of his final two years with Bisons.  Before matriculating, Hellyer skated for four seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders of the major junior Western Hockey League.  He notched 54 goals and 143 points in 262 career WHL games and acted as the Raiders' captain in 2006-07.

The Mallards will open their seventeenth season- and their fourth in the CHL- when they host the Rapid City Rush Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  A pregame Fan Fest outside the iWireless Center will precede the opener from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.  The Fan Fest will feature live music- including plenty of classic covers- from the Loan

Sharks, food and beverage stands, a beer tent, the arrival of the Mallards' new Ice Girls and Mo Mallard, the team's perennially popular mascot.  In addition, Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski will stop by to deliver his season-opening welcome to fans on hand.  There will also be ample entertainment for younger fans, including a bounce house and a petting zoo.

Opening night festivities will continue after the Mallards' match-up with Rapid City with a post-game party at Rascals.  Mallards players will join fans at Rascals, which is located at 1414 15th Street in Moline.

Opening night tickets cover admission to both the Mallards' battle with the Rush and the Fan Fest.  Fans can enjoy savings off the regular ticket price by purchasing a four-pack of lower level seats for opening night for just $44.  $44 four-packs can be purchased in person at the iWireless Center box office or by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364.

All other tickets for the season opener and all other Mallards regular season home games are also now on sale at Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com, through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000 or at the iWireless Center ticket office.  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.

Mallards season tickets as well as half season tickets and flex packs are also still available.  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
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching 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. 

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