The Quad City Mallards have signed rookie forward Matthew Neal, the Mallards announced today.  

Neal, 23, scored five times and totaled 16 points in 35 games at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this season.  Last year, the 5’ 11”, 200-pound Minesing, Ontario, native set collegiate career highs by scoring ten goals and recording 27 points in 37 games.

Over his four seasons as an Engineer, Neal produced 25 goals and 52 assists for 77 points in 127 games.

Before arriving at R.P.I., Neal spent three seasons with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Stouffville Spirit.  He capped off his junior career in 2010-11 by piling up 40 goals and 60 assists in 50 games to finish fourth in the OJHL with 100 points.

The Mallards are next in action tonight on the road against the Wichita Thunder.  The Mallards next play at home Friday at 7:05 p.m. against the Wichita Thunder.  That game brings the return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X and MetroLINK.  Fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and beers from iWireless Center concession stands during all Friday home games.  

The Mallards have partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during Friday home games.  Students can catch the Route 10 on campus via 7th Avenue to and from games, with the Route 10 dropping students off near campus or in the District after games.  Students can then take the Route 53 from the District back to Augustana until 3 a.m.  As part of Metro’s unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.  Fans can visit www.gogreenmetro.com or www.facebook.com/53and59 for more information.  
 
For Friday home games the Mallards have also joined with Rooster’s Sports Bar & Grill in Rock Island to offer fans the chance to get a lower level ticket to the Mallards’ game along with an appetizer and drink at Rooster’s and a Metro bus ride to the game from Rooster’s and back for just $20.  For more information fans can contact Rooster’s at 309-283-7005.

After Friday night’s game, fans can join the Mallards at Rivals Sports Bar & Grill for a postgame party.  Rivals is located at 1720 East Kimberly Road in Davenport.

Tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including the March 27 contest- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.  Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.