From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Friday, Feb. 27, 2004
Direct Line: 713.361.7930

MINNESOTA RECALLS VEILLEUX, BURNS

Pair to join Wild in Dallas

Houston, TX – The Minnesota Wild has recalled right wing Brent Burns and left wing Stephane Veilleux from the American League’s Houston Aeros, the teams announced Friday. Burns and Veilleux are expected to join the Wild in Dallas tonight. Houston, meanwhile, wraps up a four-game road trip in San Antonio.

Burns, 18, (3/9/85) was assigned to the Aeros for conditioning yesterday and assisted on Rickard Wallin’s game-tying goal late in regulation against Milwaukee. Burns was Minnesota’s first-round (No. 20 overall) draft pick in 2003. He has appeared in 21 games with the Wild, registering five points (1+4=5) and eight penalty minutes. The Ajax, Ont., native scored a goal in his third NHL game, October 12 in San Jose. The Wild loaned Burns to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships in Finland, and he recorded six assists in six games to help the squad to a Silver Medal. Burns is the third Minnesota player to jump straight to the Wild the same year he was drafted, joining Marian Gaborik and Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

Veilleux, 22, (11/16/81) is the Aeros’ leading scorer with a career-best 38 points (13+25=38) and is tied for the AHL lead with a franchise record tying four shorthanded goals. Veilleux played in 38 games with the Wild in 2002-03, registering five points (3+2=5). He has career totals of 90 points (37+53=90) in 206 pro games, counting both the NHL and the AHL. The Beauceville, Que., native was the only Aero to appear in each of the team’s first 62 games this season.

The Aeros return to Houston tomorrow to take on San Antonio at 7 p.m. in the opener of a five-game homestand. The first 3,000 fans will receive hockey puck bottle openers. Call 713.974.PUCK for more information.