News

DEFENSEMAN COYLE JOINS MALLARDS

By: Mallards Communications Staff
Photo: Fort Wayne Komets

The Quad City Mallards have signed defenseman Jace Coyle, the Mallards announced today.

Coyle, 26, returns to North America after two seasons in Europe. Last season the 6’, 200-pound Cranbrook, British Columbia, native scored ten goals and added 24 assists for 34 points in 64 games while helping the Sheffield Steelers to Britain’s Elite Ice Hockey League title.

Coyle, who spent the 2014-15 season in Denmark with the Aalborg Pirates, last played in the ECHL in 2013-14 when he produced eight goals, 23 assists and 31 points in 63 games with the Fort Wayne Komets. That campaign also saw Coyle play three American Hockey League games for the Lake Erie Monsters.

“We’ve missed a point man on the power play who could control the puck, make good passes and take quality shots on goal and with Jace we now have that kind of player,” said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski. “[Former Mallard] Mickey Lang played with him in Fort Wayne and told me he’s a good guy and a very good player. He could be a huge asset for us because the game has changed and you need a defenseman to come up into the play to create an odd-man rush and Jace is a guy who can do that and help us teach the younger guys as well.”

Coyle, who split his first two professional seasons between ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads and the AHL’s Texas Stars, has played 61 career AHL games. Over his five seasons in pro hockey, Coyle has scored 19 goals and collected 93 assists to record 102 points in 282 games.

Coyle turned pro after four years in the Western Hockey League, the final three of which he spent with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Coyle broke into the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs, who in 2007-08 won both Western League title and the Memorial Cup Canadian major junior championship in his lone season with the club.

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 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.



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Quad City Mallards   Fort Wayne Komets
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Quad City Mallards   Missouri Mavericks
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Quad City Mallards   Tulsa Oilers
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