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Mallards add pair of rookie forwards

Mallards add pair of rookie forwards

Monday, August 1st

MOLINE, Ill. – The Quad City Mallards have signed forward Grant Arnold and have inked forward/defenseman Josh Elmes to a tryout agreement.

The Mallards are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild.

Arnold, 25, captained the University of Denver each of the last two seasons. The Centennial, Colo. native was the first player in 62 years to serve as Pioneers captain in back-to-back campaigns. Arnold scored 14 points (5g-9a) as a senior last year. He recorded 34 points (10g-24a) in 153 career collegiate games.

Denver reached the NCAA tournament each of Arnold’s first three seasons. Arnold was co-winner of the 2014-15 Dr. Ralph Verploeg Award, which is presented to the Pioneers’ most inspirational player. As a sophomore in 2013-14, Arnold helped DU to the first ever National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular season title while also earning NCHC Academic All-Conference recognition. Arnold bookended a three-year stint with the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers by helping the Gamblers to the USHL’s Clark Cup title in 2010 and again in 2012. He produced 49 points (21g-28a) in 138 career junior games.

Elmes, 22, last season played senior hockey in Saskatchewan for the Moosomin Rangers of the North Central Hockey League and helped propel the Rangers to the NCHL title. The Brandon, Manitoba product was named to the NCHL First All-Star Team after scoring a dozen goals and notching 14 assists in 20 games.

In 2014-15, Elmes scored three times and added four assists in 28 games with the University of Manitoba. Elmes spent the 2013-14 campaign in the USHL, dividing his time between the Fargo Force and Dubuque Fighting Saints. He skated for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s OCN Blizzard for three seasons before moving south of the border.