Photo: Jack McLaughlin/ActionPointPhoto

The Quad City Mallards have signed defenseman Kevin Gibson, the Mallards announced today.  

Gibson, 25, was named to the 2014-15 Division III All-American first team and was voted Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading defensemen nationwide in points (32) as a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  The 6’ 0”, 175-pound Gross Pointe, Michigan, native scored eight goals and collected 24 assists in 31 games last season.  After completing his final collegiate campaign, Gibson played three games for the Tulsa Oilers at the end of the regular season.
 
Gibson scored 18 goals, added 65 assists and totaled 83 points in 117 games over four highly decorated seasons at UWSP.  Gibson was named to the All-WIAC first team each of the last two years after earning All-Northern Collegiate Hockey Association honorable mention as a sophomore.  As a junior he helped propel the Pointers to the 2014 NCAA title game.

Kevin Gibson is the son of former Major League Baseball player and manager Kirk Gibson, who played for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates between 1979 and 1995 before managing the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010 to 2014.  The elder Gibson twice won the World Series in his playing days and was named the National League’s most valuable player in 1988.
 
“I first heard about Kevin Gibson from Chris Brooks, his college coach, who told me he was very competitive and a very good defenseman, so that got me really interested.  I’m sure some of that competitiveness comes from his gene pool,” said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.  “Kevin is very excited to come here.  He wants a chance to compete and be seen and we can give him a chance to prove he can go to a higher level.”
 
The Mallards will begin their nineteenth season- and their second in the ECHL- on the road against the defending champion Allen Americans on Friday, October 16 before returning to the Quad Cities to play their home opener on Friday, October 23 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers.  Mallards 2015-16 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.com.