FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Jan. 14, 2011

WILD RECALLS HACKETT, SPURGEON; AEROS SIGN BROWN TO PTO

HOUSTON --- Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled goaltender Matt Hackett and defenseman Jarod Spurgeon from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL) while Houston Aeros General Manager Jim Mill announced that the Aeros have signed goalie David Brown to a Professional Tryout (PTO) contract.

Hackett, 20 (3/7/90), is 10-10-1 with a 2.55 goals against average (GAA), a .910 SV% and one shutout in 23 games with the Aeros in his first professional season. He went 33-18-3 with a 2.62 GAA and a .925 SV% in 56 games with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2009-10. Hackett ranked second in the OHL in SV%, third in wins, tied for fourth in shutouts (four) and fifth in GAA. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound native of London, Ont., was Minnesota’s third-round pick (No. 77 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He was signed to a three-year entry level contract by the Wild on March 16, 2010. Hackett is the nephew of former NHL goaltender Jeff Hackett and will wear sweater #31 with the Wild.

Spurgeon, 21 (11/29/89), has skated in 15 games with the Wild averaging 12:37 time on ice (TOI) while accruing two penalty minutes (PIM) and a minus-3 rating. He has been recalled by Minnesota three times this season and made his NHL debut on his 21st birthday, Nov. 29 in Calgary. Spurgeon has nine points (2-7=9) and 10 PIM in 23 games with the Aeros this season. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound native of Edmonton, Alta., tallied 51 points (8-43=51) in 54 games for Spokane of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. He won a Memorial Cup with Spokane in 2008. Spurgeon was the New York Islanders’ sixth-round pick (No. 156 overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He was signed by the Wild as a free agent on September 22, 2010.

Brown, 25 (2/11/85), has appeared in 21 games with the Quad City Mallards of the Central Hockey League and has posted a 9-10-0 record along with a 2.57 GAA, a .923 SV% and three shutouts. He currently leads the CHL in shutouts, ranks fourth in GAA and is third in SV%. The Stoney Creek, Ont., earned Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, January 2, when he registered a  3-1-0 record in four games while turning in a 1.74 GAA  and a .952 SV% and posted the first two shutouts of his career.

The Aeros continue a run of four games in five nights tonight at Chicago. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. CST at the Allstate Arena. The team returns home for a pair of games vs. the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday (7:35 p.m.) and Sunday (4:05 p.m.).

Arrive early on Saturday and receive an official Aeros 2010-11 Team Photo. On Sunday, the Aeros celebrate Team Mascot Chilly’s 15th birthday with Chillypalooza. Mascots from around the Houston Area will be on hand to take part in the festivities including an intermission broomball game against the Sugarland Mites (4-8 years old) hockey team. Family Day ticket packs start at $67 and include four tickets, free parking, Aeros souvenirs and $20 in Toyota Center Bucks.

Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.