Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Thursday, December 22, 2005
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

EIGHT MORE FORMER AEROS NAMED TO OLYMPIC TEAMS

Lang, Kuba, Koivu, Hannula, DiPietro, Tuzzolino, Signoretti, Chitaroni join Esche in Turin

HOUSTON, Texas - Former Aeros Robert Lang, Filip Kuba, Mikko Koivu, Mika Hannula, Paul DiPietro, Tony Tuzzolino, Andre Signoretti and Mario Chitaroni will travel to Turin for the 2006 Olympic Games, joining former Aeros goaltender Robert Esche, who was named to Team U.S.A. on Monday. Lang and Kuba will play for the Czech Republic, Koivu will represent Finland, Hannula will play for Sweden, DiPietro will represent Switzerland while Tuzzolino, Signoretti and Chitaroni will skate for host Italy.

Lang notched eight points (1-7=8) in nine games for Houston in 1997-98, while countryman Kuba had nine points (3-6=9) in 27 games in 1999-2000. Koivu played for the Aeros in 2004-05, totaling 48 points (20-28=48) in 67 games. Hannula was an Aero in the 2003-04 season, putting up 27 points (9-18=27) in 67 games. DiPietro, who actually hails from Ontario, has spent the last seven seasons playing in Switzerland. DiPietro notched 41 points (18-23=41) in 36 games for the Aeros in 1995-96. Tuzzolino was a member of the Aeros' 2003 Calder Cup-winning team, posting 15 points (9-6=15) in 50 regular-season games and eight points (4-4=8) while playing in all 23 playoff contests. Tuzzolino, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., has spent the last three seasons playing in Italy. Chitaroni was an original Aero in 1994-95, totaling 56 points (24-32=56) in 79 games, while Signoretti was scoreless in two games for the Aeros in 2000-01.



The Aeros play home on Friday at 7:35 p.m. against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Click here to buy tickets. Have extra family in town for the holidays? Treat them to an Aeros game! For all three "Aeros Holiday Games" (Dec. 23, Dec. 26 and Dec. 28) get a center ice seat for $20 (normally $28) or a corner seat for $15 (normally $20). Offer only good by calling the Aeros office at 713.974.PUCK or by ordering online. Username is Holiday, password is Specials.






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