Rock n’Äô Roll, Hockey, and Mallard-pride runs through the Quad Cities
by Adam Gierhart ’Äò11
After a 3-year hiatus, the Quad City Mallards have returned home.
Through many memorable years in the Quad Cities (Moline, Ill., Davenport, Iowa, Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island, Ill.), including three Colonial Cup championships and establishing a strong identity and fan base in the surrounding community the Quad City Mallards discontinued operations three years ago in order to bring in an American Hockey League (AHL) team.
The team that was brought in was the Quad City Flames, a minor league affiliate of the NHL’Äôs Calgary Flames. The Quad City Flames, as well as all of the other AHL teams, are one step below their NHL affiliate, just as the Iowa Cubs are one step below the Chicago Cubs in baseball.
In theory, more competitive hockey should have brought in more fans and therefore more money, but in practice that was not the case. After only three seasons in the Quad Cities, the Flames relocated elsewhere due to financial reasons, largely from lack of attendance.
After the announcement of the Flames departure at the end of the 2008-2009 season, hockey pride was restored to the Quad Cities as the Mallards franchise migrated back home, joining the International Hockey League (IHL) as an affiliate to the NHL’Äôs Philadelphia Flyers.
With a warm welcome back to their rightful home, the Mallards began plans to restore their fan base and championship-caliber team. A new logo, team colors and jersey designs gave the Mallards a fresh, new look; all of which culminated on Oct. 24, 2009 for the Mallards home opener against the defending IHL champion, Fort Wayne Komets.
The much-anticipated event began with an outdoor pre-game concert by Night Ranger, a rock band that reached their pinnacle during the 1980s with their hit single, ’ÄúSister Christian.’Äù Night Ranger played about an hour-long set before the doors opened, playing original tracks as well as a number of cover songs to a crowd that seemed too anxious to welcome back their Mallards to fully enjoy the entertainment being provided by the band.
After the pre-game concert the inside of the I Wireless Center ’Äì the home of the Mallards ’Äì located in Moline, Ill., was packed full of eager fans. Vintage Mallards jerseys, as well as new Mallards apparel and even some Flames apparel were worn proudly by a large percentage of the audience.
The games began at 7:10 p.m., after a video montage and elaborate team introductions to a sold out crowd.
The Mallards got out to a 1-0 start midway through the 1st period, only to give up a game-tying goal with less than 10 seconds to go in the opening period, ending the first of three frames at a 1-1 tie.
The remainder of the game was one-sided in favor of the Fort Wayne Komets who won the game 3-1. The Mallards struggled establishing any sort of offense and turned the puck over too much throughout the game, so the outcome was not surprising.
An early season loss to the defending IHL champions is understandable at this point in the season due to the short amount of time the team has been together (less than 4 months).
With time and the support of the Mallards faithful, the Quad City Mallards should return to championship form in no time.
