MOLINE, Ill. (July 5, 2011) - The Quad City Mallards of the "AA" Central Hockey League today announced they have re-signed center Eric Giosa. Per club policy, no contract terms were announced.
In 54 games last year, Giosa, 26, led the Mallards in goals (26) and plus/minus rating (+11) and finished third on the team in points (48) - despite missing the final 11 games of the regular season due to a broken finger. Giosa, who was named a Mallard alternate captain in February, returned to the lineup for the playoffs and scored twice in Quad City's four-game opening round loss to the Colorado Eagles.
"Signing last year's leading goal scorer and plus/minus player is a great step in the right direction," said Mallards head coach and general manager David Bell. "I am excited to see what the new Mallards philosophy will do for Eric's point total this season. Eric has shown great leadership and interest in helping me retain and build a winning team for the upcoming season."
The 5' 11", 182-pound Northville, Michigan, native earned league-wide recognition when he was named the CHL's Second Star for January, a month during which he scored 11 times, notched 16 points and produced the first two hat tricks of his career.
The Mallards originally acquired Giosa last September in a trade with the Wichita Thunder. Giosa was dealt to the Thunder by the Laredo Bucks earlier in the 2010 offseason after scoring 12 goals and recording 35 points in 57 games with the Bucks as a rookie in 2009-10.
Giosa played four games for the ECHL's Reading Royals at the end of the 2008-09 season immediately after completing his collegiate career at Sacred Heart. As a senior, Giosa led the Pioneers with 16 goals. He totaled 42 goals and 84 points in 140 career games at Sacred Heart.
Giosa's is the first signing announced by the Mallards for the 2011-12 season.
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