From: Patrick Armstrong, Director of Communications
713.361.7920 (Direct Line)
Scott Henninger, Communications Manager
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)
Monday, October 29, 2007

AEROS WEEKLY RELEASE: THREE HOME GAMES SCHEDULED

HOUSTON, Texas – After the Houston Aeros win last night over San Antonio the team improves to 2-4-1-0 (5 points) and is tied for 7th in the West Division. The team has three games slated for the week including a Happy Hour game on Tuesday, the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game Friday and the second Family Day of the season on Sunday.

TUE, vs. SYR, 7:05 p.m.
All Tied Up
The Syracuse Crunch come to town for the first and only time this season Tuesday night with the all-time series knotted at 3-3. Syracuse won both games last season but the Aeros took two games in 2004-05 when the teams last played. Houston’s Steve Kelly leads the team with 17 points (2-15=17) in 12 career-games against the Crunch. The Aeros will visit Syracuse February 22, 2008 for the second and last game against the Crunch this season. This game is a Maple Leaf Pub Happy Hour game. Get a Center Ice seat, $10 in Toyota Bucks, free parking and a Maple Leaf Pub drink coupon for just $32. The package is also available in the lower end zone for $23. Call 713.361.7940 to order your package now.

FRI, vs. LEM, 7:35 p.m.
First Time for Everything
The first-year Lake Erie Monsters will make their first ever visit to Houston. The Aeros have a winning record against first-year/new AHL teams standing at 22-14-1-0 facing such foes. The Aeros will play a total of 17 more games this year against Rockford, Lake Erie and Quad City, all first year teams. This game is our 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game, the first 3,000 fans will receive Houston Aeros Pink Mini Sticks!

This night features a special Susan G. Komen ticket package where you receive 2 Lower End Zone tickets and 2 Commemorative Susan G. Komen Pink Pucks, a portion of every package will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The pucks were very popular last season and as a result this package sold out, so get yours before they’re all gone. Call 713.361.7940 to order your SGK package today! This great package can be upgraded to any seating area in the Toyota Center!

SUN, vs. LEM, 4:05 p.m.
Staying for the Weekend
Lake Erie will stick around for the weekend to play at Toyota Center again on Sunday, another Aeros Family Day. Besides the two games here in Houston, the Monsters have the rest of the week off. This game marks the final of the Aeros four-game home stand. This game is an Aeros Family Day. Get four tickets, 2 Aeros Koozies, 2 Aeros Mini Sticks, $20 in Toyota Bucks and free parking, all starting at just $67. Call 713.361.7940 to order. THE FIRST TEN PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR A CENTER ICE FAMILY PACK WILL RECEIVE A “HAPPY FEET” DVD that can be picked up at the game at the Customer Service Table.

All Aeros games are broadcast live on KNTH 1070-AM and through Aeros.com. For $6, you can also watch the game live via B2 Networks. Visit Aeros.com 10 minutes prior to gametime to order.

Practice Schedule
29-Oct-07 Monday Toyota Center 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
30-Oct-07 Tuesday Toyota Center 7:05 p.m. vs. Syracuse
31-Oct-07 Wednesday SLICE 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
01-Nov-07 Thursday SLICE 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
02-Nov-07 Friday Toyota Center 7:35 p.m. vs. Lake Erie
03-Nov-07 Saturday SLICE 10:10 a.m. 12:10 p.m.
04-Nov-07 Sunday Toyota Center 4:05 p.m. vs. Lake Erie


Player of the Week: LW Aaron Voros

10/27 at SAN, 0-0=0
10/28 vs. SAN, 2-0=2, 7 PIM, +2
Voros tallied the team’s first two-goal game of the season, tying him with Erik Reitz for the team lead with three goals. Sunday night Voros netted the first goal of the game and added the empty-net insurance-marker to ensure the Aeros first regulation-win of the season.

Notables
• The Aeros are 2-4-1-0 this season and both of their wins have come in the last three games against the San Antonio Rampage. They are 2-1-0-0 against the Rampage and 0-3-1-0 against the rest of the league.
• The Aeros power play continues to struggle this season. They have scored just two goals on 50 chances through seven games. They are 29th in the AHL in that category scoring on just 4% of their chances.
• The Aeros recorded their first win in regulation on Sunday against the Rampage. Their last regulation win was on April 14, 2007 against San Antonio as well.
• This past week, two players were called up to the Aeros NHL affiliate, the Minnesota Wild. RW Cal Clutterbuck was called up on October 23 and played in his first NHL game on Sunday, October 28 against the Colorado Avalanche. G Nolan Schaefer was called up on Saturday, October 27 to replace injured G Niklas Backstrom.
• Sunday’s 3-1 win was the first game the Aeros have allowed less than three goals. • The Aeros two wins this season have come when the team has marked the fewest shots on goal. In the two wins the Aeros have tallied eight goals on 38 shots.

Affiliation News
After going 0-2-0-1 last week the Minnesota Wild holds a record of 7-2-0-2. The first regulation-loss of the season came while visiting Calgary Wednesday night, 5-3. The Wild stood as the only undefeated team in the NHL up to that point. Minnesota came out hot taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Brian Rolston opened the game by netting his patented slap shot and Mark Parrish followed with his tradition tip-in. Wes Walz finished the Wild’s scoring for the night at 9:41 in the first period, leaving the Wild scoreless for the next 50 minutes as the Flames netted five of their own for the win. Marian Gaborik assisted on the Parrish and Walz goals. Niklas Backstrom stopped 19 of 24 shots for the Wild.

Former Aero Josh Harding got the start in net Thursday night allowing four goals on 31 shots in the shootout loss. Harding stopped one of three shootout attempts and Petteri Nummelin netted the Wild’s lone shootout goal. James Sheppard, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Rolston and Parrish scored the regulation goals. Parrish tied the game at 9:00 in the third period to take the game into overtime.

Cal Clutterbuck, who was recalled earlier this week, made his first NHL appearance Sunday night in Colorado as the Wild lost 3-1. G Nolan Schaefer was on the bench as backup after being recalled from the Aeros bus only 45 minutes outside of San Antonio for Houston’s road game that night. Eric Belanger netted the Wild’s only goal, his ninth point (4-5=9) of the season – third on the team.

The Texas Wildcatters took Saturday night’s home-opener into a shootout but couldn’t capitalize on home ice losing 2-1 to the Florida Everblades. Florida goalie Justin Peters made 48 saves through 65 minutes of regulation and overtime but the biggest came versus Troy Riddle on Texas’ last shootout attempt, sealing a 2-1 victory for the Everblades. Neither team was able to get on the board until well into the second period. Jonathan Paiement tallied the lone Wildcatters goal at 9:35 in the second.

The Wildcatters (2-1-1) enjoyed their first home win of the season as they dominated the Florida Everblades (3-1-0) on Sunday night, 5-3 at Ford Arena. Houston camp attendees Danick Bouchard, Riley Emmerson and Ross Carlson along with John McNabb and Dan Welch each netted goals for Texas.

Aeros home and home weekend:
HOU 1 at SAN 4, HOU 3 vs. SAN 1

Saturday: The San Antonio Rampage defeated the Houston Aeros Saturday night 4-1 in front of 4,482 fans at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. G Josh Tordjman stopped 31 of 32 shots he faced and the Rampage scored shorthanded, even-strength (2) and power play goals in their fourth victory of the season. Houston had more shots (32) than any other game this season, however they finished 0-7 on the power play. The Rampage finished 1-5 on the power play. Ryan Hamilton scored the lone Aeros goal at 17:57 in the third period with Benoit Pouliot and Danny Irmen adding the helpers

Sunday: The Houston Aeros defeated the San Antonio Rampage 3-1 in front of 5,785 fans at Toyota Center Sunday afternoon. This game marks the third of three straight Aeros (2-4-1-0) games against San Antonio (4-3-0-2), Houston finishing 2-1 in the series, including a shootout-win eight days earlier.

The Aeros were led by Voros who netted two goals in the contest. Houston point-leader Reitz also tallied a goal and an assist in the game for his third multi-point game of the season. The Rampage’s D Keith Yandle scored the team’s lone goal, a power-play marker. Houston’s G Barry Brust stopped 37 of 38 shots on net earning him the win as San Antonio net-minder David Aebischer blocked 15 of 17 shots while in goal. The Aeros spent some time in the box with 17 penalties for 37 minutes allowing for 15 San Antonio power-plays. The Aeros went 0-for-6 with the man-advantage.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --