From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

MINNESOTA WILD REASSIGNS RW JOEL WARD TO HOUSTON

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 play host to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. It’s a Maple Leaf Happy Hour game – get a center ice ticket, $10 in Toyota Bucks and free parking all for $32. Call 713.974.PUCK to order. Click here to order single-game tickets online.

Ward, 26 (12/2/80), recorded one shot on goal and a +1 rating in 9:21 of ice time last night at Dallas after being recalled from Houston yesterday afternoon. He has recorded one assist, 12 shots on goal and an even rating while averaging 7:42 of ice time in 11 games with Minnesota this season. The Wild has recalled the 6-foot-2, 215-pound forward four times this season. The Toronto, Ontario-native made his NHL debut Dec. 16 and recorded an assist for his first NHL point Dec. 26 at Toronto. Ward has collected 11 points (6-5=11) and 24 penalty minutes (PIM) in 34 games with the Aeros this season.

---HOUSTON AEROS---