Photos: Ottawa 67's; Elmira College Athletics; Sydney Bears

The Quad City Mallards have signed forward Nathan Todd to a standard player contract and have signed forwards Joe Harcharik and Alex Taulien to tryout agreements, the Mallards announced today.

Todd, 20, made his professional debut late last season with the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators, for whom he played seven games. The 6’ 0”, 194-pound Kemptville, Ontario native scored 17 goals, added 33 assists and totaled 50 points in 53 games while spending the bulk of last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s.

“Nathan is a good addition at center ice for us. He is a character player and a good teammate who is strong on faceoffs,” said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski. “He has an aggressive style of play and he put up very good numbers in a very good program with the Ottawa 67's.”

In 2014-15, in his first major junior campaign, Todd produced 19 goals, 28 assists and 47 points in 63 games with the 67’s. He made the jump to the OHL after three seasons in the junior A Central Canada Hockey League with the Brockville Braves.

Harcharik, a 28-year old Des Moines native, returns to North America with the Mallards after spending the last three seasons overseas. The 6’ 0”, 180-pound Harcharik last season skated in the Swedish Hockeyettan where he scored eight times and notched 14 assists for 22 points in 34 games with Sollentuna HC.

“We brought Joe in on a tryout basis. He's someone I had a chance to watch a while back when he was with the Laredo Bucks and he's got good speed and some offensive ability,” said Ruskowski.

Harcharik’s career has also taken him to Russia, Germany Poland and Australia. He suited up for the Sydney Bears of the Australian Ice Hockey League in the summer of 2015 after playing for Orlik Opole in the Polska Hokej Liga in 2014-15. 2013-14 was Harcharik’s first full European season. He spent that campaign with Crocodiles Hamburg in the German Oberliga. Harcharik’s European odyssey began in Russia with a brief stint with Yermak Angarsk in 2012.

Harcharik last played in North America in 2012-13 when he scored nine goals and picked up nine assists for 18 points in 31 games with the Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League. He broke into the pro ranks in the Central Hockey League with Laredo in 2011-12.

Harcharick played 17 games over two seasons at Robert Morris University between 2009 and 2011 before turning pro. He arrived at RMU after three-plus years with the North Iowa Outlaws of the North American Hockey League.

Taulien, a 24-year old product of Crystal Lake, Illinois, played one game last spring for the Missouri Mavericks after completing his third season at Elmira College. The 6’ 4”, 218-pound Taulien scored seven goals and registered seven assists for 14 points in 16 games at Elmira last year.

“Alex is an intriguing situation. I almost brought him in for our playoff run last year but he went to Missouri instead,” said Ruskowski. “He's someone who has good size and hits hard. He also has a decent touch around the net and with more playing time I think he could develop into a pretty good player.”

Taulien rang up 27 goals, 23 assists and 50 points in 65 career collegiate games. Like Harcharik, Taulien competed in the NAHL- for the Traverse City North Stars and Soo Eagles- before moving on to college hockey.

The Mallards will open their twentieth season in the Quad Cities on Friday, October 14 at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets at the iWireless Center. Mallards 2016-17 season tickets are now available. Season ticket holders enjoy significant savings on the walk-up ticket price and receive a host of exclusive benefits. For more season ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.net.