Home
News
Mallards re-sign Novak, welcome Kalisz

Mallards re-sign Novak, welcome Kalisz

Thursday, August 3rd

MOLINE, Ill. – The Quad City Mallards have re-signed forward Kyle Novak and have also signed forward Joe Kalisz for the 2017-18 season.

The Mallards are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Vegas Golden Knights and the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

Novak, 24, joined the Mallards after completing his college career at Western Michigan University in March and picked up one assist in six regular-season games. The O’Fallon, Mo. native scored once and added three assists in eight games for WMU last season. Novak totaled 31 points (14g-17a) in 85 games over his four years as a Bronco.

Before heading to Western Michigan, Novak spent two full junior seasons and part of a third with the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers. In 2011-12, Novak helped the Gamblers to the USHL title. The following season he finished fourth in the league in points (77).

Kalisz, 26, scored 35 points (18g-17a) in 48 games with the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Fayetteville FireAntz as a rookie last season.

Kalisz broke into the pro ranks after three standout seasons at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he was both a two-time Division III All-American and a two-time All-Conference selection. The Davison, Mich. native reached the national championship game each of his three years as a Pointer and won the NCAA title with UWSP in 2016.

Kalisz was named to the 2015-16 All-American First Team as well as the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team after finishing tied for third in the nation in assists (29) and fifth in points (42). He earned All-American (second team) and All-Conference (first team) honors for the first time in 2014-15. That campaign saw Kalisz lead the Pointers in goals (18) and finish tied for the team lead in points (32).

Kalisz played three seasons of junior hockey for the North American Hockey League’s St. Louis Bandits and the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers before arriving at Stevens Point. Kalisz was named the 2011-12 NAHL Most Valuable Player after leading the league in points (91) and finishing tied for the league lead in goals (40).