The Quad City Mallards have re-signed forward Sam Warning for the 2017-18 season, the Mallards announced today.

Warning, 24, returns for his third season with the Mallards after scoring 24 goals and adding 30 assists for 54 points while posting a plus/minus rating of plus-five in 68 games last year.

“Sam is a very significant signing for us. He’s a guy I can put on the ice with less than two minutes to play with the game on the line. He plays on both the power play and the penalty kill and can play all three forward positions. In addition to his versatility, Sam has NHL caliber speed and I expect his production will increase in his third year of pro hockey,” said Mallards coach Phil Axtell. "As great a hockey player as he is, he’s an even better person so we are absolutely thrilled we’ll have Sam in a Mallards sweater next season.”

The 5-foot-10-inch, 180-pound Warning last season finished third on the team in goals, tied for third in assists and fourth in points. Along with Chris Francis and Josh MacDonald, Warning is the third of the Mallards’ top five point scorers to re-sign with the club for the coming campaign. This is the first time since 2006 the Mallards have brought back three of their five leading point producers.

“I’m excited about coming back, having a consistent year and helping the team win. With coach Axtell back for a full season as head coach and the way he always strives for excellence, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season,” said Warning. “It’s also great to be returning because the Quad Cities have been a great place to play the last couple of seasons. The community has done a tremendous job of welcoming all of us.”

Warning has totaled 40 goals, 45 assists and 85 points in 133 games over his first two seasons as a Mallard. The Chesterfield, Missouri, native scored 16 goals, picked up 15 assists and produced 31 points in 65 games as a rookie 2015-16.

Warning turned professional after four seasons at the University of Minnesota. He scored 40 goals and collected 57 assists for 97 points in 146 career games as a Golden Gopher.

In 2014-15, Warning completed his collegiate career by scoring 12 goals and notching 12 assists for 24 points in 39 games. Warning earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after scoring 14 times, registering 20 assists and ringing up 34 points in 39 games in 2013-14. He was also named to the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team after helping Minnesota to the Frozen Four for the second time in three seasons. Warning and the Gophers claimed conference regular season titles and NCAA tournament bids each of his first three collegiate seasons. Warning was also named to conference all-academic teams each of his final three seasons at Minnesota.

Warning arrived at Minnesota after spending two junior seasons with the United States Hockey League’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, whom he helped to a first overall finish in 2010-11.

The Mallards will open their twenty-first season- and their fourth in the ECHL- on Friday, October 13 against the Toledo Walleye at the iWireless Center. Mallards 2017-18 season tickets are now available. Season ticket holders enjoy significant savings of 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.