From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

14 REASSIGNED TO AEROS TRAINING CAMP

HOUSTON, Texas – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has assigned the following 12 players to the training camp of the Houston Aeros, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate: defensemen Paul Albers, Jeff May, Frederic St. Denis, Clayton Stoner; right wings Cal Clutterbuck, Moises Gutierrez, Danny Irmen, Joel Ward; center Steve Kelly; left wings Ryan Hamilton, Roman Voloshenko and goalie Barry Brust.

Albers, 21 (10/15/85), played five games last season with the Aeros recording two penalty minutes (PIM). The 6-foot-1, 188 pound Albers also played in 68 games with ECHL Texas Wildcatters where he led team defensemen with 43 points (12-31=43) and added 32 PIM. He also ranked ninth-best among ECHL defensemen in points. During the 2005-06 season the Melville, Saskatchewan, native tallied a career high 62 points (17-45=62) with Western Hockey League (WHL) Vancouver.

May, 20 (4/4/87), played in 72 games for WHL Prince Albert last season setting a person best in goals (10) and assists (34) while adding 96 PIM. The 6-foot-1, 186 pound Richmond, B.C., native has tallied 99 points (15-84=99) and 287 PIM in 256 career WHL games, dating back to his rookie campaign in 2002-03.

St. Denis, 21 (1/23/86), tallied 38 points (9-29=38) and 59 PIM last season with QMJHL Drummondville and also played in 12 playoff contests marking eight points (1-7=8) and eight PIM in the post-season. The 5-foot-11, 190 pound Greenfield Park, QC, native played the last five seasons with Drummondville tallying a career-best 67 points (17-50=67) in 2005-06.

Stoner, 22 (2/19/85), collected 107 PIM and added seven points (1-6=7) in 65 games for the Aeros last season. The 6-foot-3, 205 pound native of Port McNeill, B.C., was originally selected by Minnesota in the third round (79th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Stoner also played 73 games for the Aeros during the 2005-06 season tallying 24 points (6-18=24) and 92 PIM and also contributed a goal and an assist in three playoff games that season.

Clutterbuck, 19 (11/18/87), marked a career best with 89 points (35-54=89) and PIM (153) last season for OHL Oshawa. The 5-foot-10, 196 pound native of Welland, Ont., ranked second on the team with his 54 assists. Originally selected by Minnesota in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Clutterbuck has posted 202 points (93-109=202) and 501 PIM in 256 career OHL games, spanning five seasons.

Gutierrez, 21 (7/20/86), appeared in 61 games with WHL Everett in 2006-07, producing 55 points (35-20=55) and 110 PIM. The 6-foot-4, 227 pound native of Anchorage, AK, posted 86 points (33-53=86) and 401 PIM in 265 contests for WHL Kamloops from 2002-06.

Irmen, 23 (9/6/84), played in all 80 games for Houston last season tallying 37 points (17-20=37) and 45 PIM while playing in more games than any other Aero. The 6-foot 190 pound native of Fargo, N.D., played at the University of Minnesota for three seasons and was selected by Minnesota in the third round (78th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Ward, 27 (2/21/80), totaled 23 points (9-14=23) and 45 PIM last season, his second with the Aeros. The 6-foot-2, 205 pound native of Toronto, Ont., also played in 11 contests with the Minnesota Wild last season tallying one assist with the club. Ward also played in 66 games for the Aeros in the 2005-06 season tallying 22 points (8-14=22) and 34 PIM plus four goals, two assists and four PIM in eight Calder Cup Playoff games the same season.

Kelly, 30 (10/26/76), Led Frankfurt of German DEL in PIM (209) and ranked tied for second with 38 points (9-29=38) last season. The 6-foot-2, 210 pound native of Vancouver, B.C., is entering his 12th pro season, first with Aeros. Kelly has 147 games of NHL experience with Edmonton, Tampa Bay, New Jersey and Los Angeles, with 21 points (9-12=21) and 83 PIM. He was also a member of 2000 Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.

Hamilton, 22 (4/15/85), played in 62 games for the Aeros last season, ranking fourth among Aeros in rookie scoring with 16 points (7-9=16) and added 36 PIM. The 6-foot-2, 219 pound native of Oshawa, Ont., marked a career-best 72 points (46-26=72) and 58 PIM with OHL Barrie during the 2005-06 season.

Voloshenko, 21 (5/12/86), played in 76 games with the Aeros last season tallying 30 points (11-19=30) and 22 PIM. The 6-foot-1, 205 pound native of Brest, Belarus, ranked tied for ninth among all AHL newcomers in 2005-06 with 60 points (33-27=60), third among AHL rookies with 33 goals. He ranked fifth on Aeros roster in points and fourth in goals and also tied a team record with 20 PPG. Voloshenko also participated for Team Russia at 2006 World Junior Championships.

Brust, 24 (8/8/83), played in a total of 29 games last season including 11 with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, tallying a record of 2-4-1 with a goals against average (GAA) of 3.70 and a .891 save percentage. He also played in 18 games with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs posting a record of 9-7-0 with a 2.40 GAA and a .923 save percentage. The 6-foot-2, 235 pound native of Swan River, M.B., earned a 2-1 record in five Calder Cup Playoff appearances with a 1.81 GAA and a .937 save percentage.

Single game tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. so visit Aeros.com to get yours! You can still reserve your priority group seating for Opening Night today by calling (713) 974-PUCK. It’s also not too late to order your 2007-08 season tickets and receive 10 of the 40 regular season games free! Call (713) 974-PUCK or click here to get your season tickets today!

-- HOUSTON AEROS --