From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Saturday, September 30, 2006
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

BELLE, SMITH ASSIGNED TO HOUSTON

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild president and general manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the team has assigned center Wyatt Smith and defenseman Shawn Belle to the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros.

Smith, 29 (2/13/77), signed with Minnesota as a free agent on July 19. He posted eight assists in 42 games with the New York Islanders last season, and 29 points (13-26=39) in 39 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Smith won a Calder Cup title in 2004 with Milwaukee. He has played 351 games in the AHL with 250 points (107-143=250).

Belle, 21 (1/3/85), was acquired from Dallas at the trade deadline in March. In 61 games with Houston and Iowa, Belle totaled five points (2-3=5). He played juniors at Tri City along with fellow Wild prospect Clayton Stoner.

---HOUSTON AEROS---