Press release courtesy of Minnesota Wild

MINNESOTA WILD RECALLS LW BENOIT POULIOT FROM HOUSTON AEROS

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled LW Benoit Pouliot (pronounced BEHN-wah POO-lee-ott) from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, Minnesota has placed LW Derek Boogaard, a former Aero, on Injured Reserve.

Pouliot, 20 (9/29/86), recorded 15 points (11-4=15) and 21 penalty minutes (PIM) in 15 games with Houston this season. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound forward ranked first on the team in goals and plus-minus rating (+6), tied for first in points and second in power play tallies with three. He also ranked tied for first in the AHL with three game-winning markers and his 11 goals ranked second amongst AHL rookies.

Pouliot posted 65 points (35-30=65) and 141 PIM in 51 games for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2005-06. He led the club in goals and was second in scoring. Pouliot also led Sudbury with a +23 rating and finished with 11 power play goals, five shorthanded markers and three game-winning tallies. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships, recording five assists and 14 PIM in six games. Pouliot tallied 67 points (29-38=67) in 67 games for Sudbury in 2004-05 and was named the 2005 OHL Rookie of the Year and a member of the OHL 2nd All-Star Team.

The Alfred, Ontario-native was originally selected by Minnesota with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and was signed to a multi-year contract by the club on May 1, 2006.

He will wear No. 67 for the Wild.

---HOUSTON AEROS---