Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Monday, May 22, 2006
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

FORMER AERO, 2003 CALDER CUP MVP HOLMQVIST NAMED BEST GOALIE AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

RIGA, Latvia – Johan Holmqvist, named the Butterfield Trophy Winner as the 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player while leading the Aeros to the title, was named “Best Goalie” at the recently completed International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships. Holmqvist blanked the Americans in the quarterfinals, then made 15 saves in a 4-0 Gold Medal win over the Czech Republic.



Holmqvist, acquired from the New York Rangers in a late season trade in the 2002-03 season, also spent 2003-04 in Houston, alongside Gold Medal-winning teammate Mikka Hannula. Hannula registered a hat trick against Team U.S.A. The Swedes became the first nation in history to capture Olympic and IIHF World Championship gold in the same year.



Zbynek Michalek (2002-05) won a Silver Medal with the Czech Republic, while Mikko Koivu (2004-05) captured a Bronze with Finland. Nick Schultz (2002 Calder Cup Playoffs) also was in the final four with Canada, which fell 5-0 to Finland in the Bronze Medal game.



Other Aeros in the World Championships included Patrick O’Sullivan (2005-06), Richard Park (2001-02) and Mark Cullen (2002-05) for Team U.S.A. and Marius Holtet (2004-05) for Norway.




---HOUSTON AEROS---