AEROS BRING BACK FORTUNUS, SIGN TWO ROOKIES

Two defensemen, one forward added to roster

Houston, Texas – The Houston Aeros have signed defensemen Maxime Fortunus (mack-SEEM, for-TOO-nahs) and Dan Boeser (BESS-er) and forward Mike Kompon to AHL contracts for the 2004-05 season, the team announced Tuesday.

Fortunus, 21, (7/23/83) is the only player of the three with AHL experience. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of La Prairie, Que., played 12 regular season games with the Aeros in 2003-04, recording two assists. He made his Aeros debut December 23 and also played one playoff game. Fortunus spent most of his rookie campaign with the ECHL’s Louisiana IceGators, where he registered 18 points (3-15=18) and 27 penalty minutes in 64 games. Fortunus played four-plus junior seasons at Baie-Comeau, totaling 148 points (40-108=148) and 277 penalty minutes in 285 games. In 2002-03, Fortunus won the Butch Bouchard Trophy as the QMJHL’s top defenseman.

Boeser, 24, (8/14/80) comes to the Aeros after a four-year career at the University of Wisconsin. The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Savage, Minn., also saw action in one regular-season and one playoff game with ECHL Peoria after he completed his collegiate career. With the Badgers, Boeser compiled 79 points (17-62=79) and 20 penalty minutes in 153 career games, and he played alongside Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley in 2000-01. Last March, Boeser’s overtime goal against No. 2 seed Ohio State advanced the Badgers to the regional semifinals.

Boeser served as Wisconsin’s captain his final two seasons and is a cancer survivor – after his sophomore season, he was diagnosed with follicular B cell lymphoma, a non-Hodgkins form of cancer. Boeser underwent 20 radiation treatments but still played in the team’s season-opener against RPI. He coordinated player visits to every patient at the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital, an initiative that started as a suggestion to coach Mike Eaves. For his efforts, Boeser was one of five finalists for the 2004 NCAA Humanitarian Award, an award given to former Aero Blake Sloan in 1997. Boeser was also honored with the Wisconsin Public Television’s prestigious Jim Santelli Seventh Man Award, given to a player who fans think gives his all on the ice and best represents the trademarks of team spirit and good sportsmanship.

Kompon, 22, (2/21/82) registered 138 points (49-89=138) and 104 penalty minutes in 153 games over four seasons with Miami (Ohio) University. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound native of Thunder Bay, Ont., compiled 93 points over his final two campaigns, including a 45-point (14-31=45) senior season. In his junior season, Kompon was named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV Men’s At-Large Third Team, and he followed that up with an Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Third Team showing in his senior season. Kompon finished his career ranked 10th all-time at Miami in scoring, and as a senior he helped lead the RedHawks to 23-14-4 overall record, a second-place CCHA finish and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997. Kompon earned a physical education degree at Miami and played juniors with hometown USHL Thunder Bay prior to enrolling at Miami.

It’s not too late to join the Aeros “Elite Fleet”. Elite Fleet members get tickets to all 40 Aeros games for the price of 30, along with great benefits like guaranteed premium items and discounted merchandise. Elite Fleet packages start at just $300. Partial packages of 13 and 22 games are also on sale and begin at only $130.

The Aeros are beginning to take orders for groups of 20 or more, which offer a great discount for friends, families and co-workers. Call the Aeros front office at 713.974.PUCK to schedule your group outing today.