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League power Wichita mauls Mallards
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The Quad City Mallards are making "an important announcement concerning the team'' today at 1:30 p.m., according to a media release by the Flock. For those guessing at the news, on the eve of the Mallards kicking off a 15th anniversary celebration for their back-to-back league champs, QC coach Terry Ruskowski jokingly confirmed the press conference has nothing to do with extending his contract after Wednesday night's 5-1 thrashing by Wichita at Moline's i wireless Center. "We played like we weren't even there,'' Ruskowski said. "No emotion. None.'' For the second time in three days, the ninth-place Mallards (13-15-3, 29 points) were handled by one of the CHL's top two teams, in this case the second-place Thunder (20-10-3, 43 points). This time, the Flock finished a mid-third period goal, by scoring leader Mickey Lang, from a second straight shutout. Just as galling for QC, which trailed 4-0 before Lang's 16th goal of the season? The Mallards just knocked Wichita out of first place last Saturday on the road, winning for the sixth time in eight games. Now, QC has dropped its last two with third-place Denver coming to town Friday. "You know what's infuriating?'' Ruskowski asked rhetorically. "When you think you can take the next step in developing these guys and all of a sudden you have to go back to basics again and teach them all over what we're doing, what our systems are again, and how to react. "It's so frustrating to see the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. They correct it when we win, but then they go back to their old style again and play pond hockey and it just frustrates the heck out of me.'' The CHL's worst power play unit was again lifeless, going 0-for-3 on the man-advantage. "Our power play hasn't even gotten close to scoring goals,'' against Wichita and league-leading Allen, a 4-0 winner over QC Monday, Ruskowski said. "We just don't have a guy back there that can quarterback my power play. We don't have a guy who will take a shot or give a guy a pass or stop it, wind up and shoot it. "When we get the puck on the power play, instead of driving, we take it back out again. Why? Why can't we hit the net with the puck? It is so frustrating.'' Just as disappointing is QC's defense. The Mallards also drew just a pair of penalties, neither for fighting, despite getting blown out in their own building. "There's guys I brought here because of their physical presence, not because they think they're great hockey players,'' Ruskowski said. "So I told them a little saying (Wednesday), `When a mucker thinks he's a rusher, he soon becomes an usher.' "That's good advice. Dance with what brought you. Don't try and do something else. Know your strengths. "We're not winning the one-on-one battles. We're not hitting. You don't have to run through the boards, you just have to finish your checks. How many times did we finish our checks (Wednesday)? Once?'' Of the Mallards, only Jason Dixon earned praise Wednesday. "Even though he's a little guy, he hits probably more than anybody else,'' Ruskowski said. "When he gets the puck, I don't have to worry about him making a bad, cross-ice pass. It's either getting in deep or he's making a nice play at a blue line. "We just don't have anybody driving to the net for any kind of rebound or deflections. Everybody's perimeter; they play outside. We don't get down and dirty. We have no creativity (on offense) and we don't pass well. That's a bad combination.'' The stinker, as the Mallards near the season's midway point, earned them video review this morning, moved up to 7:30 before an on-ice practice. "I'd go at 5 a.m., but I can't get up that early,'' Ruskowski said. "Not when you're just getting to sleep by then, if at all. This game will be going through my mind the whole time.'' 
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Today is Saturday, May 18, the 138th day of 2013. There are 227 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: A large variety of children's wagons and gigs have arrived in thecity and are being sold at war prices.
1888 -- 125 years ago: All Rock Island retail houses, with the exception of a clothingstore and a jewelry store, have agreed to early closing hours during the summer months.The store will be closed at 8 p.m.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Baseball enthusiasts in Rock Island are attempting to raise$20,000 to keep the Island City Park open, despite the fact that the city has no franchise inorganized baseball this year.
1938 -- 75 years ago: The organization of a third rural young people's unit will beundertaken tomorrow night at the Milan Presbyterian Church, with Mrs. Mildred K.Wellman, home advisor, and Robert Smith, county farm adviser in charge.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Deere & Co. will begin a "big switch" on its telephone systemMonday morning. The extension numbers of all 1,600 telephones on the firm's EastMoline and Moline exchanges will be changed Monday morning.
1988 -- 25 years ago: East Moline's June Jamboree VI -- Nostalgia Days, will seemlike a '60s revival with the appearance of stars like Bobby Vee, Freddie Cannon, PeterNoone, Turtles, The Grass Roots and Lou Christie. This year's festival has beenexpanded to five days, June 22-26, at the Northeast Park complex.
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