For Immediate Release: April 9, 2016
Game 72 (Road Game 36)
Vs. Quad City Mallards (37-28-4-2, 80 PTS)
Saturday, April 9, 2016 - 8:05 pm ET
iWireless Center - Moline, IL
Overview: The Cyclones wrap up the 2015-16 regular season on Saturday night against the Quad City Mallards. Cincinnati fell to Quad City, 6-3, on Friday night, and currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. Cincinnati needs a regulation win on Saturday to guarantee them the seventh spot in the Western Conference. If the playoffs were to start today, Cincinnati would be headed to Missouri to take on the League-leading Mavericks in the first round.
Last Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-27-5-4) fell to the Quad City Mallards, 6-3, on Friday night. Forwards Andrew Yogan and Colin Mulvey, and defenseman Jonathan Diaby potted the goals for the Cyclones. The Cyclones outshot the Mallards, 33-26 on the night, with goaltender Andy Iles stopping 20 shots in the loss.
Last Saturday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-26-5-4) were defeated by the Toledo Walleye on Saturday night’s regular season home finale by a score of 7-3. Defenseman Garrett Noonan lit the lamp once and forward Tommy Mele scored twice for the Cyclones, who sit in seventh place in the Western Conference with two games left to play in the regular season. The Cyclones outshot Toledo, 32-25, with goaltender Andy Iles coming away with 18 saves in the defeat.
Last Friday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-25-5-4) fell to the Evansville IceMen, 5-3, on Friday night. Forward Nick Huard tallied a pair of goals, while defenseman Cody Carlson chipped in one for Cincinnati. The Cyclones outshot the IceMen, 51-25, with 20 saves from goaltender Andy Iles in the loss. Despite the loss, the Cyclones have clinched a spot in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs by way of the Tulsa Oilers falling to the Quad City Mallards Friday night.
Previewing Quad City: The Mallards locked up the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with their 6-3 win over Cincinnati on Friday night. Quad City has won four in a row and six of their last eight, and are outscoring their opponents, 19-9, in the last four games. They are led by forwards Olivier Archambault (22g, 29a) and Matt Neal (18g, 33a) who have each accounted for 51 points on the season. Team goals leader Matt Carey rounds out the top three scorers with 46 points through 48 games (24g, 22a).
Inside the Series: This will be the eleventh and final meeting of the season between the Cyclones and Mallards, with Cincinnati holding a 5-4-0-1 edge in the first 10 games. Cyclones forward Jack Downing leads all scorers with 13 points (4g, 9a) through the first 10 games.
Next Game Preview: The Cyclones are off to the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs starting next weekend, where they will face either the Missouri Mavericks or the Ft. Wayne Komets. Cincinnati dropped both meetings with the Mavericks this season, and compiled a 5-4-1-0 record against the Komets. The Cyclones will play Games 1 and 2 on the road.
Milestone for Downing: With a pair of assists in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Quad city Mallards, forward Jack Downing has totaled 200 point in his pro hockey career. A native of New Canaan, CT, Downing is currently in his fifth pro season, having seen time in the ECHL with the Cyclones, Missouri Mavericks, South Carolina Stingrays, and the Elmira Jackals, and the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Binghamton Senators, Providence Bruins, and Iowa Wild. In 331 career games, Downing has accounted for 106 goals and 94 assists.
Yogan Returns: Forward Andrew Yogan, has been released from his PTO with the St. John’s Ice Caps of the American Hockey League (AHL), and has been returned to the Cyclones. This was the fourth AHL stint for Yogan, who also saw two separate stints with the Syracuse Crunch, and one with the Iowa Wild. Yogan has been one of the offensive leaders for the Cyclones this season, and made an immediate impact in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Quad City Mallards, registering his 15th goal of the season. He has been an offensive force for the Cyclones all season long, tallying 15 goals and dishing out 26 assists for 40 points in 32 games played. The 24-year-old has seen action in 39 AHL games this season, accounting for six goals and 12 assists.
Staying Hot: Forward Tommy Mele dished out an assist in Friday’s 6-3 loss to Quad City, and has totaled six goals and five assists over his last 10 games played. The Bronx, NY, native is enjoying a career season, achieving new career highs in goals (27), assists (23), and points (50).
Playoff Bound: Despite losing to the Evansville IceMen last Friday night, the Cyclones have clinched a spot in the 2016 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati clinched their spot by way of holding a tiebreaker over the Tulsa Oilers, who also lost their game with the Quad City Mallards on Friday. This will be the eighth time since returning to the ECHL prior to the 2006-2007 season that the Cyclones will be participating in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati won the Kelly Cup in 2008 and again in 2010, and made a third trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2014.
Get DOWN With Your Bad Self: By way of his goal in Thursday night’s 6-1 win over the Indy Fuel, forward Jack Downing moved into a tie for fifth-most goals in a single season in Cyclones history with Thomas Beauregard (2007-08) with 31. With one game left in the regular season, Downing still has the opportunity to move up on the list, as Jean-Michel Daoust, (2006-07) is just ahead of the New Canaan, CT native with 32. Downing also has amassed 233 shots on goal this season, which is the second-most in a season in team history, behind Beauregard’s 275 total in 2007-08.
Single Game Playoff Tickets On Sale: The Cincinnati Cyclones have announced that single game tickets for the first round of the 2016 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs are now on sale. The Cyclones clinched their spot in the ECHL’s second season on Friday night, and this will be the eighth time since returning to the ECHL prior to the 2006-2007 season that the Cyclones will be participating in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati won the Kelly Cup in 2008 and again in 2010, and made a third trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2014. The Cyclones will be hosting Game 3 and Game 4 of the first round, as well as Game 5 if necessary. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, while Game 4 and Game 5 will be played on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, respectively. All games will start at 7:35pm ET at U.S. Bank Arena. The team has also announced a pair of promotions for the first round of the playoffs, including $1 beers for Game 3, and $1 John Morrell hot dogs for Game 4. Cyclones playoff tickets start at $16.00 for rows two and higher, and $29.50 for all first row seats.
Cyclones Announce Playoff Ticket Packages: The Cincinnati Cyclones have announced ticket packages for the upcoming 2016 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cyclones playoff packages start at $256 per seat and include all 16 potential playoff games. Current 36-game full-season ticket holders already have games one and two of the 2016 playoffs included in their season ticket packages, therefore 14-game plans are available starting at $224 per seat. Single game tickets will be announced at a later date, once the Cyclones officially clinch a spot in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Under the current ECHL playoff format, the top eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conference receive playoff berths, and all rounds are a best-of-seven format with a potential of four rounds in total.
The 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs are right around the corner! YOUR Cyclones are on the march towards another Kelly Cup Championship, and want you along for the ride! Be sure to check out one of our 2016 Kelly Cup Playoff Ticket Packages, available NOW! Call 513.421.PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Instagram, and our website, www.cycloneshockey.com!
