From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Thursday, July 12, 2007
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Press release courtesy of Minnesota Wild

MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS GOALTENDER ANTON KHUDOBIN

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed goaltender Anton Khudobin (pronounced an-TAWN khuh-DOH-bihn) to an Entry Level contract.

Khudobin, 21 (5/7/86), appeared in 16 games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Russian League in 2006-07 and posted a 2.72 goals against average (GAA). He also appeared in three playoff games for Metallurg. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound netminder played in 44 games with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2005-06 and posted a record of 23-13-3 with a 2.90 GAA, a .917 save percentage and four shutouts. In 10 playoff games Khudobin went 4-6 with a 2.80 GAA and a .920 save percentage. The native of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan backstopped Russia to a gold medal at the 2004 World Under-18 Hockey Championships posting a 4-2 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

He was originally selected by Minnesota in the seventh round (206th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

---HOUSTON AEROS---