From: Ryan Stanzel, Vice President of Communications/Administration
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Monday, July 16, 2007

MINNESOTA WILD RE-SIGNS MATT FOY, ERIK REITZ, AARON VOROS AND JOEL WARD

All four skated for Aeros in 2006-07

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has re-signed right wing Matt Foy, defenseman Erik Reitz, right wing Aaron Voros and right wing Joel Ward to 2007-08 contracts.

Foy, 24 (5/18/83), notched 50 points (27-23=50) and 121 penalty minutes (PIM) in 62 games with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2006-07. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound forward set AHL career-highs in goals and points and led the Aeros in scoring, registered a team-leading 12 power play goals and ranked fourth in PIM. He also appeared in nine NHL games with the Minnesota Wild last season and averaged 7:10 in ice-time. Foy started the 2005-06 season with Minnesota and tallied five points (2-3=5) in 19 games with the Wild before being reassigned to Houston on Nov. 25, 2005. He made his NHL debut and recorded an assist against Calgary on Oct. 5, 2005 and recorded his first two NHL goals against Vancouver on Oct. 12, 2005. The native of Oakville, Ont. was originally selected by Minnesota in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2002 Entry Draft. Foy ranks fifth in all-time goals for the Aeros with 65 and seventh in total points at 139 (65-74=139).

Reitz, 24 (7/29/82), collected 34 points (9-25=34) and 132 penalty minutes (PIM) in 73 games with the Houston Aeros in 2006-07. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound defenseman set AHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists and points and ranked second in scoring amongst team defensemen, third on the team in PIM and added three shorthanded goals and three power play tallies. He appeared in one NHL contest with Minnesota last season, logging 10:35 of ice-time and a plus-1 rating at Chicago on Jan. 19, 2007. Reitz has appeared in six career NHL games with the Wild and made his NHL debut at Calgary on April 7, 2006. The Detroit, Mich.-native was originally selected by Minnesota in the sixth round (170th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Reitz was part of the Aeros’ 2003 Calder Cup winning team, and has played in 314 games for Houston, ranking fifth all-time. He has tallied 92 assists with Houston for the sixth most in team history. Reitz also ranks 16th in team history with 119 points (27-92=119).

Voros, 26 (7/2/81), recorded 22 points (11-11=22) and 169 penalty minutes (PIM) in AHL games with the Lowell Devils and the Houston Aeros in 2006-07. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound forward started the season with Lowell and notched 17 points (9-8=17) and 111 penalty minutes (PIM) in 39 contests before he was acquired by Minnesota from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft on March 1, 2007. Voros finished the season with Houston and tallied five points (2-3=5) and 58 PIM in 19 games. The native of Vancouver, B.C. recorded AHL career-highs with 16 goals and 30 points in 73 games with the Albany River Rats in 2005-06. He was originally selected by the Devils in the eighth round (229th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Ward, 27 (2/21/80), collected 23 points (9-14=23) and 45 PIM in 64 games with Houston in 2006-07 and led the team with four shorthanded goals. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Toronto, Ont. also appeared in 11 games with the Minnesota Wild last season, recording an assist and averaging 7:42 of ice-time. He made his NHL debut Dec. 16, 2006 at Vancouver and recorded an assist for his first NHL point Dec. 26, 2006 at Toronto. Ward notched 22 points (8-14=22) and a plus-8 rating in his first season of professional hockey with the Aeros in 2005-06. Minnesota originally signed the training camp tryout to a contract on Sept. 27, 2006. Ward has played 130 total games in two seasons with Houston, totaling 45 points (17-28=45) and 79 PIM.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --