From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Monday, December 13, 2004
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

Aeros Weekly Report

This week on Aeros.com – Check out both www.aeros.com and www.theahl.com today for a feature story on Brent Burns, written by 13-year-old aeros.com and Pearland/Friendswood Reporter News Junior Reporter Michael McHugh. McHugh’s other sports work has previously been included on www.mlb.com and Sports Illustrated for Kids. Check www.aeros.com every week for a McHugh column or interview.

Coming attractions:

THU, vs. NOR, 7:05 p.m.
3,000 Santa Hats; Aeros Happy Hour; Men of Fire Fighters Calendar
Houston returns to play after a 13-day break without a game. The Aeros, 5-3-0-0 against Norfolk and 3-1-0-0 in 2003-04, have won three straight home regular season games against the Admirals since dropping the first game 2-0. Norfolk last won in Houston in the regular season on December 19, 2002, a 2-0 decision. The Admirals feature former Aeros defenseman Marty Wilford, and Houston head coach Todd McLellan and the Admirals' Trent Yawney were teammates in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons with WHL Saskatoon. Yawney, however, has been suspended indefinitely following an in-game incident Saturday versus Lowell.
The men of the 15th annual Houston Fire Fighters Calendar will drop the puck and will also be available to take pictures with fans (cameras not provided). They will also participate in an intermission tug-of-war. For both games this week, the Aeros are offering a corner ticket plus Fire Fighters Calendar for $25. Order online at www.aeros.com/themenights. Username is Fire, password is Calendar. For Thursday’s Aeros Happy Hour, get a corner ticket plus free parking for just $15, and enjoy pre- and post-game drink specials ($1 well drinks and drafts) at The Bus II across from Toyota Center. Or, get a center ice seat, free parking, $10 in Toyota Bucks and pre- and post-game drink specials at The Bus II for $30. Call 713.974.PUCK to order, or order online at www.aeros.com/themenights. Username is Happy, password is Hour.

SAT, vs. NOR, 7:35 p.m.
Teddy Bear Toss/Toy Drive/Santa Bobbleheads
The Admirals play their second and final game of the season in Houston. It’s the Aeros annual Teddy Bear Toss and Toy Drive. Please bring in stuffed animals to throw on the ice after the Aeros' first goal. In addition, new unwrapped toys will be collected at all Toyota Center entrances. All items will benefit the Children's Assessment Center. The first 3,000 fans will also receive a Santa Bobblehead.

West Standings - The Aeros enter this week with 27 points, in fourth place in the West Division.
West Division Standings, 12/13
Milwaukee 16-4-2-1=35
Grand Rapids 17-7-1-0=35
Chicago 15-8-2-1=33
Houston 12-10-2-1=27
San Antonio 10-10-2-4=24
Cincinnati 9-16-0-2=20
Utah 6-17-0-2=14

Cullen, Veilleux continue to ascend all-time points chart - Aeros centerman Mark Cullen and winger Stephane Veilleux recently became the 18th and 19th players, respectively, in team history with 100 points. The duo each has 102 points, tied with Michael Maurice for 15th on the all-time list. Cam Stewart is 14th with 108.

Power play unit looks to pick up where it left off - The Aeros, who had a franchise-record-trying four PPG November 20 in Syracuse, are 11-for-35 (31.4 percent) over their last seven games and 15-for-54 (34.1 percent) in their last 11 games, a span that has seen them outscore their opponents 15-7 on their respective man advantages.

Hopefully break didn’t cool off Veilleux - Aeros winger Stephane Veilleux has three goals over his last two games, one off his career-best three-game goal streak, set February 3-6, 2003. Veilleux has goals in back-to-back games for the second time this season, marking the seventh time this season an Aero has accomplished the feat. No Aero has a goal in three straight games. Veilleux has a three-game point streak (3-1=4) overall. Veilleux had five PPG in his first three seasons in Houston, and he has five already this season.

Smith can’t wait to get back on the road - Aeros goalie Mike Smith is 4-0-0 with a 2.77 gaa on the road but 3-5-0 with a 2.92 gaa at home.

Holtet recalled - The Aeros recalled right wing Marius Holtet from ECHL Louisiana this morning. Holtet was reassigned to the IceGators on December 3. The highest-drafted Norweigan in NHL history was held without a point in four games with Louisiana. With the Aeros, Holtet has three points (2-1=3) and 22 PIM’s in 17 games.

Down on the farm - The CHL’s Austin Ice Bats are 10-10-1, tied for second in the Southeast Division...F Dallas Anderson has three goals and three assists and 131 PIM’s in 15 games...Anderson ranks fourth in the CHL in PIM’s...The ECHL’s Pensacola Ice Pilots are 11-4-2 for third place in the South, one point ahead of the Louisiana IceGators (10-6-3)...For Pensacola, LW Jordan Krestanovich has 14 points (7-7=14)...RW Jason Beckett has six assists and is a team-best plus-seven...LW Bill Kinkel has two goals and 47 PIM’s in five games and is currently on injured reserve...D Ryan Stokes has one goal and one assist and 49 PIM’s...IceGators LW David Bararuk (6-9=15) is second on the team in scoring while D Maxime Fortunus has five points (1-4=5)...RW Mark Rooneem has four points (1-3=4) and 22 PIM’s...G Kyle Kettles is 4-3-0 with a 2.98 gaa and a .906 save pct. and is currently on injured reserve...UHL Quad City is 11-10-3, in fourth place in the West...G Robert Gherson is 4-4-1 with a 2.50 gaa and is currently in Houston...C Mike Kompon has a team-best 21 points (5-16=21)...Kompon is first in assists and third in points among UHL rookies.

Aeros’ Practice schedule:
Monday - 10-11:30, Sugar Land
Tuesday - 10-11:30, Sugar Land
Wednesday - 10-11:30, Sugar Land
Thursday - Pre-game skate, vs. NOR 7:05 p.m.
Friday - 10-11:30, Sugar Land
Saturday - Pre-game skate, vs. NOR 7:05 p.m.
Sunday - Off


---HOUSTON AEROS, BE A FAN---