Goaltender C.J. Motte has returned to the Quad City Mallards from the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild after being released from a professional tryout agreement by the Wild, the Mallards announced today.

Motte, 26, went 1-1-2 with a 2.68 goals against average and a .911 save percentage in four games after signing a PTO with Iowa on December 18. The 6-foot, 175-pound St. Clair, Michigan native recorded his first career AHL shutout when he made 34 saves in a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland the same day he signed with the Wild. Motte, who went 1-1-1 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .929 save percentage in three games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves earlier in the campaign, has gone 2-2-3 in seven total AHL outings this season while compiling a 2.52 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.

Motte has posted a 3.15 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout while going 1-7-1 in nine games with the Mallards this season. Motte finished last season- his first with the Mallards- tied for sixth in the ECHL in save percentage (.917) and tied for eighth in goals against average (2.68) while going 20-11-2 in 36 games. Almost exactly one year ago, Motte represented the Mallards- and earned the win- in the 2017 ECHL All-Star Classic.

Motte’s just-completed stint with the Wild was his second with the club. He first suited up for Iowa- without seeing any game action- late last season. Motte last year also spent time in the AHL with the Wolves and Charlotte Checkers. He played in two AHL games last season- both with Charlotte- and went 1-0-0 with a 0.75 goals against average and a .976 save percentage while surrendering a single goal on 42 shots.

Motte went 15-22-2 with a 2.83 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 42 games as a rookie with the Elmira Jackals in 2015-16.

Motte broke into pro hockey with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, for whom he played four games and posted a 1-2-1 record, a 2.49 goals against average and a .917 save percentage late in the 2014-15 season.

Motte turned pro after four sterling seasons at Ferris State University. In 2014-15 he became the first goaltender in school history to serve as team captain. He set Ferris State records for most career wins and shutouts (15) while going 66-49-12 with a 2.13 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in 127 collegiate games.

Motte not only earned All-WCHA honors in both his junior (first team) and senior (third team) years but was also one of ten finalists for the 2014 Hobey Baker Award. As a senior, Motte finished second in the nation in minutes played (2435:33) and tied for sixth in shutouts (5) after leading Division I netminders in both wins (28) and minutes (2431:06) and also finishing tied for sixth in shutouts (5) in his junior year.

Motte and the Bulldogs won regular season conference titles and earned NCAA tournament bids in both 2011-12 and 2013-14 and in 2012 reached the national title game.

Motte played three years of junior hockey before heading to Ferris State. He spent two seasons in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Black Hawks after a single campaign in the North American Hockey League with the Traverse City North Stars.

The Mallards return to action on home ice tomorrow night at 7:05 against the Indy Fuel. Tomorrow’s game also brings the return of $2 Dog/$2 Beer Night presented by 97X. Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs and beers from TaxSlayer Center concession stands during every Friday Mallards home game. In addition, the Mallards have once again this season partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during all Friday home games. As part of Metro’s unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.

Tickets for tomorrow night's contest and all Mallards regular season home games are now on sale at the TaxSlayer Center box office, Ticketmaster toll free charge-by-phone (1-800-745-3000) and ticketmaster.com. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.