Aeros recall G Cloutier, D Storey, C McGrane from ECHL Louisiana

Houston, TX – The Houston Aeros have recalled goaltender Frederic Cloutier, defenseman Ben Storey and rookie center Ed McGrane from the ECHL’s Louisiana IceGators, the teams announced today. The trio is expected to be available for tonight’s 7 p.m. home game against the San Antonio Rampage. Tonight is Dan Cavanaugh Bobblehead Night.

Cloutier, 22, (5/14/81) has played in two games this season with the Aeros, losing both with a 4.60 goals against average. With the IceGators, the 6-foot, 180-pound St. Honore, Quebec, native, is 20-8-2 with a 2.34 goals against average. He started the 2004 ECHL All Star Game and was named the skills competition's Most Outstanding Goaltender. Cloutier, a third-year pro, played three seasons of juniors in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Storey, 26, (6/22/77) ranks third on the IceGators with 56 points (18-38=56) in 61 games. He started the 2004 ECHL All Star Game and won the hardest shot competition. Storey is tied for the ECHL lead with 39 power play points, and his 18 goals tie him for the league lead among defensemen.

This is Storey’s third recall of 2003-04 to the Aeros. In five games, Storey has one assist and two penalty minutes. He was most recently reassigned to Louisiana last Saturday, March 20. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Ottawa has also played in the AHL for Hershey, and one post-season contest for Utah. Storey played collegiately at Harvard.

McGrane, 25, (5/4/78) ranks seventh on Louisiana’s team with 43 points (18-25=43) in 43 games, after opening the season with 21 points (14-7=21) in 19 games with CHL Corpus Christi. McGrane tied an IceGators franchise record January 25 with five assists.

This is McGrane’s third recall of the season to the Aeros. In three games, he has one assist and six penalty minutes. The helper came in his AHL debut, December 3 in Utah. Overall in his three stops, McGrane has 65 points (32-33=65) in 65 games. McGrane, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound native of Hamilton, Ont., played four seasons at UMass-Lowell.

The Aeros also play home Sunday at 5 p.m. versus Milwaukee. It’s Girl Scout/Family Day as the Admirals come to town. The first 3,000 fans will receive an Aeros Klacker.