Quad City Mallards head coach and general manger Terry Ruskowski has been relieved of his duties.

According to the Mallards, assistant-coach Phil Axtell will be interim coach for the team.

Axtell has been serving as the team's assistant coach for the past two years.

A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

A press conference is planned for 1:00 p.m. on Friday at the iWireless Center.

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