Press release courtesy of Minnesota Wild

MINNESOTA WILD ASSIGNS CLAYTON STONER TO HOUSTON AEROS

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has assigned D Clayton Stoner to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Wild’s primary development affiliate.

Stoner, 21 (2/19/85), suffered a shoulder injury in the final game of the Wild’s 2006 Centre Ice Prospects tournament on September 12 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and did not appear in a preseason game with Minnesota. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman recorded 24 points (6-18=24), 92 penalty minutes (PIM) and skated to a plus-6 rating in 73 games during his rookie campaign with the Aeros in 2005-06. Stoner led Houston rookie defensemen in scoring and added three power play goals. He also collected a goal and an assist in three playoff games for the Aeros.

The Port McNeill, British Columbia native was originally selected by Minnesota in the third round (79th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

---HOUSTON AEROS---