MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS CENTER PATRICK O’SULLIVAN

SECOND ROUND PICK IN 2003 LED OHL’S ICEDOGS TO DIVISION TITLE LAST SEASON

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the team has signed center Patrick O’Sullivan to a rookie contract.



Minnesota’s second round selection in 2003 (56th overall), O’Sullivan has tallied more than 30 goals in each of his four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League.



“We have followed Patrick’s progress in the Ontario Hockey League very closely and see a very bright future for him in a Wild sweater,” Risebrough said. “We are very pleased to retain him and to know that he’ll have an opportunity to make an impact with our organization.”



O’Sullivan, 20 (2/1/85), finished fifth in the OHL in scoring last season with 90 points in 57 games while leading the Mississauga IceDogs to the Central Division Championship. The Winston Salem, N.C. native led the IceDogs in points (90), goals (31) and assists (59), and claimed OHL Player of the Week honors three times. O’Sullivan was also named the league’s February Player of the Month after notching 25 points and 10 goals in a 12-game span that included eight multi-point games.



The 5-foot-11, 190-pound center has also competed three times as a member of Team USA in the World Junior Championships. In 2004 O’Sullivan scored the game-winner in Team USA’s 4-3 win over Team Canada in the gold medal game. Last year, in his final World Junior Championships, he led the team in scoring with eight points (2-6=8) in seven games.



As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.