Former Vernon Viper Marino Scores Three Goals In Shootout Victory:

Former Vernon Vipers forward, Brandon Marino scored three goals and added one assist as the CHL Quad City Mallards won 6-5 in a shootout over the host Rapid City Rush Saturday night. Marino moved into a tie for the league lead in goals (32) with Evansville’s Brian Bicek. With four points on the evening Marino also reached 71 for the season and joined league-leader Todd Robinson of the IceMen as the second player in the CHL to top 70 points. Marino who played just two games with the 2002-2003 Vernon Vipers is in his third season with the CHL Quad City Mallards.

Brandon Marino's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=93732

This is posted on the Mallards website:

MALLARDS OUTLAST RAPID CITY IN SHOOTOUT 6-5

Special Night for Marino and Mallards in SO Win

02/25/2012

Jared Brown and John Snowden converted penalty shots after Brandon Marino rang up a hat trick and an assist in regulation as the Quad City Mallards scored a wild 6-5 shootout win over the host Rapid City Rush Saturday night. With the win, the Mallards improved to 29-22-1 (59 points) on the season and pulled within three points of the fourth place Rush- who picked up one point for the shootout loss- in the Central Hockey League’s Turner Conference.

Jared Brown- on the first Mallard penalty shot and- Snowden- on the fourth and final Quad City chance- converted in the shootout while Mallard goaltender David Brown turned aside all four Rapid City penalty shots.

The shootout followed on the heels of overtime after the Rush’s Riley Weseloski blasted the only goal of the third period from the high slot to even the contest at five at the 7:46 of the final regulation frame. Weseloski’s strike was Rapid City’s third tying goal of the night.

The Mallards took the lead on three different occasions during a roller coaster second period, and would, after the Rush battled back twice in the second to tie the score, take a 5-4 advantage into the second intermission. Mickey Lang gave the Mallards their first lead by snapping a 2-2 deadlock from close range just 25 seconds into the period. At 2:34, the Rush’s Jeff Kyrzakos buried a rebound to knot the score at three. Marino responded for the Mallards by driving his third goal and Quad City’s fourth in off the post at the five-minute mark. After giving up that goal, Rapid City goaltender Tim Boron was replaced by David Wilson. The 4-3 Mallard lead lasted until Scott Wray converted Konrad Reeder’s cross-crease pass and made it 4-4 at 9:55- only for Obi Aduba to walk in alone and score the fifth Mallard goal at 12:38.

It was the Mallards who had battled from behind in the first period as Marino scored back-to-back goals to erase a 2-0 Rapid City lead. The Mallards were up 5-on-3 when Marino cut the gap to 2-1 with a blast from the right wing circle at 11:29 of the first. Marino caught up with puck- again in the right circle- to drive the tying goal home at 17:44.

Marino’s outburst proved vital after the Rush’s Reeder- who would finish the evening with a goal and three assists- had charged into the goalmouth to open the scoring at 5:43 of the first and Rapid City’s Anthony Perdicaro had doubled the margin at 10:21 with a wraparound power play goal.

However, thanks in no small part to Marino’s efforts, the Mallards would, in the end, outlast the Rush. By scoring three times Marino moved into a tie for the league lead in goals (32) with Evansville’s Brian Bicek. With four points on the evening Marino reached 71 for the season and joined league-leader Todd Robinson of the IceMen as the second player in the CHL to top 70 points.

The Mallards return to action on home ice next Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets. Fans can purchase $2 soft drinks and $2 beers at i wireless Center concession stands during all Tuesday night home games this season.

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season home contests- including next Tuesday night’s game- are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or tickets@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.

Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Individual game tickets are available for $12 in the upper level and $17 in the lower level and $25 for the first row along the glass for adults. Tickets for kids 12 and under are available for $5 off adult rates. In addition, tickets are available to military personnel for $2 off the regular adult rate.