Olvecky will be fighting for a spot on the Aeros roster

FOUR MORE REASSIGNED TO AEROS TRAINING CAMP

HOUSTON, Texas – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has assigned the following four players to the training camp of the Houston Aeros, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate: center Tyler Hirsch, left wings Matt Kassian and Peter Olvecky and defenseman A.J. Thelen.

Hirsch, 23 (1/4/84), played 15 games last season with University of Minnesota in the WCHA tallying 22 points (4-18=22) and six penalty minutes (PIM). The Bloomington, Minn., native had a career high 44 points (11-33=44) in 2004-05 with 66 PIM. Hirsch was also a part of the Gophers 2003 national championship squad.

Kassian, 20 (10/28/86), played in 72 games last season with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) tallying a career high with eight goals, ten assists and 162 PIM. He was also named the 2007 Kamloops’ Scholastic Player of the Year with a GPA of 3.7 in four university courses. Kassian has totaled 208 games and posted 35 points (16-19=35) and 481 PIM in four years with the Blazers. Kassian was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (57th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Olvecky, 21 (10/11/85), played in 69 games with the Houston Aeros last season ranking ninth on the team with 27 points (12-15=27) and added 46 PIM. He also played in 67 games with the Aeros during their 2005-06 campaign tallying 32 points (14-18=32) and 56 PIM. Olvecky was originally selected by Minnesota in the third round (78th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Thelen, 21 (3/11/86), split the 2006-07 season with Prince Albert and Vancouver of the WHL. He totaled 23 games with Prince Albert tallying 12 points (4-8=12) and 53 PIM. Thelen, who recently signed a contract with the Aeros for the 2007-08 season, also played 30 games for Vancouver last season marking nine points (4-5=9) and 35 PIM. Thelen, originally selected by Minnesota in the first round (12th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, played in one game for the Aeros during the 2005-06 season. The same season, his most productive in the WHL, he totaled 36 points (13-23=36) and 79 PIM in 72 games with Prince Albert. He also played two seasons with WCHA Michigan State playing in 75 games marking 40 points (11-29=40) in his career with the Spartans.

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