From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

MINNESOTA WILD RECALLS GOALIE JOSH HARDING; AEROS ADD MIROSLAV KOPRIVA

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled goalie Josh Harding from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, the Aeros have recalled goaltender Miroslav Kopriva from ECHL Texas.

Harding, 22 (6/18/84), has appeared in 38 games with Houston this season, posting a record of 17-15-4 with a 2.48 goals against average (gaa), a .920 save percentage and one shutout. He ranks fifth in the AHL in wins and save percentage, 10th in gaa and second in games played, minutes (2,270), shots faced (1,181) and saves (1,087). The Regina, Saskatchewan-native appeared in one preseason game with Minnesota this season and made 20 saves in a 5-2 win against the St. Louis Blues on September 21. Harding started three games with the Wild in 2005-06 and posted a 2-1-0 record with a 2.59 GAA and a .904 save percentage after being recalled from Houston on March 8, 2006. He made his NHL debut versus St. Louis on April 4, 2006 and became the first goaltender in League history to appear in a shootout in his debut stopping 22 of 26 shots faced in a 5-4 shootout victory. Harding claimed a 2-0 shutout victory in his second career appearance stopping all 27 shots faced against Chicago in a 2-0 win on April 11.

The 6-foot-1, 193-pound netminder went 29-8-0 with a 2.68 GAA, a .904 save percentage and two shutouts in 38 games with Houston in 2005-06. He ranked tied for first in the AHL in save percentage, fourth in wins and 13th in GAA. Harding was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (38th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He will wear jersey #29 with the Wild.

Kopriva, 23 (12/5/83), is 8-1-2 with a 2.89 gaa and a .902 save pct. for the Wildcatters this season. He has appeared in two games with the Aeros, going 0-0-1 with a 2.00 gaa and a .927 save pct. In 2005-06 for Houston, Kopriva went 6-4-1 with a 3.52 gaa and a .890 save pct. He was Minnesota’s sixth-round pick (No. 187 overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

The Aeros play in Worcester at 6 p.m. tonight to begin a three-game road trip. Visit Aeros.com to listen online (broadcast joined in progress at 7 p.m.), or watch the game via B2 Networks.

---HOUSTON AEROS---