The American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros will unveil a new color scheme and home and road jerseys Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at Two Rows at 2400 University Blvd. in Rice Village. Right wing Kirby Law, signed by Minnesota on Tuesday, will be on hand to model the jersey at the 2004-05 Aeros Launch Party. Law will be available to the media as well.

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MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS FREE AGENT DEFENSEMAN RAYMOND GIROUX

Giroux was First Team AHL All Star in 2002-03

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed free agent defenseman Raymond Giroux (pronounced juh-ROO) to a contract.

Giroux, 27 (7/20/76), split time last season between the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the New Jersey Devils. He recorded 28 points (11-17=28) in 65 contests for Albany and ranked first on the team in scoring amongst defensemen. Giroux tallied three assists and four penalty minutes in 11 games for New Jersey after being recalled on March 11, 2003. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman also participated in four playoff contests with the Devils.

He potted 49 points (11-38=49) in 67 games with Albany during the 2002-03 campaign and ranked third in assists and fourth in scoring amongst AHL defensemen. Giroux played in the AHL All-Star Game and was named to the 2002-03 AHL First All-Star Team. He recorded one assist in 11 matches with New Jersey. The North Bay, Ontario-native has notched 13 assists and 22 penalty minutes in 38 career NHL contests with the New York Islanders and New Jersey. Giroux was originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the seventh round (202nd overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.