MINNESOTA RE-SIGNS GOALTENDER MANNY FERNANDEZ

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has re-signed former Houston Aeros goaltender Manny Fernandez to a 2004-05 contract. Fernandez went 34-6-9 with a 2.36 goals against average in 1998-99 as the Aeros won the IHL's Turner Cup.

Fernandez, 29 (8/27/74), posted an 11-14-9 record with a 2.49 goals against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage along with two shutouts during the 2003-04 season. The 6-foot, 180-pounder combined with Dwayne Roloson to tie for the NHL’s highest ranked team save percentage (.923) and fourth best GAA (2.18). During the 2002-03 season, he tied a career-high for wins (19), ranked fifth in the NHL with a career-best .924 save percentage and his 2.13 (GAA) ranked tenth in the NHL. During the 2002-03 playoffs, he saw action in nine games and posted a 3-4-0 record with a 1.96 GAA and a .929 save percentage. During the first round of the playoffs against Colorado, he picked up an overtime win by making 22 saves in Game Six at Xcel Energy Center and was the winning netminder in Game Seven by stopping a franchise playoff record 43 shots at Pepsi Center in Colorado.

The Etobicoke, Ontario-native has seen action in 191 NHL games in parts of nine seasons with Dallas and Minnesota. He owns a career record of 73-79-24 with a 2.51 GAA, a .912 save percentage and 10 shutouts. He was acquired by the Wild from the Dallas Stars along with defenseman Brad Lukowich in exchange for a third round selection in the 2000 Entry Draft and a fourth round choice in 2002 on June 12, 2000. He was originally drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the third round (52nd overall) of the 1992 Entry Draft.