PATRICK O’SULLIVAN ADDED TO TEAM USA’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that left wing Patrick O’Sullivan has been added to Team USA’s roster for the 2006 Men’s World Hockey Championship in Riga, Latvia.

O’Sullivan, 21 (2/1/85), collected 93 points (47-46=93) in 78 games this year in his first professional season of hockey with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL). He finished third in the AHL in goals with 47, fourth in scoring and established a new Houston record for goals in a season. The Winston Salem, North Carolina-native was named the winner of the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year. O’Sullivan led Houston in playoff scoring with 10 points (5-5=10) in eight games.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound center has competed three times as a member of Team USA in the World Junior Championships. O’Sullivan scored the game-winner in Team USA’s 4-3 win over Team Canada in the gold medal game in 2004. Last year, he ranked tied for second on the team in scoring with eight points (2-6=8) in seven games as Team USA finished in fourth place. O’Sullivan was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (56th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

O’Sullivan joins former Aeros Richard Park and Mark Cullen on Team USA’s roster. Mikko Koivu scored the game-winning goal for Finland in today’s 4-0 victory over the Americans. Nick Schultz is playing for Team Canada, while Marius Holtet is on Norway’s roster and Zbynek Michalek is playing for the Czech Republic.