MINNESOTA WILD REASSIGNS RW JOEL WARD TO HOUSTON AEROS

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has reassigned RW Joel Ward to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL). Ward is expected to be available when the Aeros visit the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Ward, 26 (12/2/80), skated in six games with Minnesota and collected six shots, averaged 7:57 in ice and had a plus/minus rating of 0 after being recalled from Houston Dec. 13. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward made his NHL debut at Vancouver on Dec. 16 and recorded his first NHL point with an assist in his hometown of Toronto on Dec. 26.

Ward has posted seven points (3-4=7) and 18 penalty minutes in 23 games for the Aeros this season. In his rookie campaign of 2005-06, Ward totaled 22 points (8-14=22) and 34 penalty minutes in 66 games.

---HOUSTON AEROS---