HOUSTON LEFT WING KRYS KOLANOS
NAMED REEBOK/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

HOUSTON, Texas – The American Hockey League announced today that Houston Aeros left wing Krys Kolanos has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending April 12, 2009. Kolanos scored five goals in two games as the Aeros locked up a berth in the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs.

After returning from the parent Minnesota Wild at the start of the week, Kolanos rejoined the Aeros lineup on Friday and scored both Houston goals, including the game-tying marker with 51 seconds remaining in regulation, in a 3-2 overtime loss to San Antonio. The standings point earned in the game allowed the Aeros to clinch a postseason invitation for the seventh time in eight years since joining the AHL. On Sunday, Kolanos netted a hat trick as Houston secured third place in the West Division with a 6-4 win over the Rampage.

In recognition of his achievement, Kolanos will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Aeros home game.

A first-round draft pick by Phoenix in 2000, Kolanos finished the 2008-09 season with 31 goals and 20 assists for 51 points in just 45 games with the Aeros, along with three goals and three assists in 21 NHL contests with Minnesota. The Calgary native has totaled 97 goals and 90 assists for 187 points in 199 career AHL games as well as 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 136 NHL matches with Minnesota, Edmonton and Phoenix.

Houston goaltender Barry Brust was the last Aero to earn Player of the Week honors last season for the week ending March 9, 2008. Brust posted a record of 3-0-0, a 1.28 goals against average and a .953 save percentage in three games that week.

As part of the Hockey Heals for Bo’s Place, a performance based program on home-points scored by Kolanos, the hat trick earned an extra $5,000 and Friday’s goals earned $2,000 to be donated to Bo’s Place. The program, supported by an anonymous donor, began March 7 and raised a total of $11,300 for the organization that provides children and their families highly individualized grief support, free of charge, to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. The donor promised $100 for each assist by Kolanos, $1,000 for each goal and $5,000 for a hat trick recorded on home ice. The anonymous donor has extended the offer into the Calder Cup Playoffs for all home dates.