Saint Paul, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed Houston Aeros' defenseman Maxim Noreau (pronounced max-EEM nohr-OH) to a multi-year contract.

“Maxim took a risk in leaving junior hockey last season, where he was a star player with a strong track record of success,” said Tom Lynn, Aeros' General Manager and Minnesota's Assistant General Manager/Hockey Operations. “He turned pro and proved he can contribute at the AHL level and earned an NHL contract. Now, his next challenge will be demonstrating he belongs in the NHL.”

Noreau, 20 (5/24/87), skated in 50 games with the Aeros in 2007-08, totaling 16 points (8-8=16) and 48 PIM, while accumulating four PIM in five playoff games. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound native of Montreal, Que., also posted three assists in two games with the ECHL’s Texas Wildcatters. Noreau attended training camp with the Wild. He played three junior seasons with Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), tallying 148 points (44-104=148) and 269 PIM in 203 games.

MAXIM NOREAU’S CAREER STATISTICS

R E G U L A R   S E A S O N
Season   Club             League   GP    G    A   PTS  PIM  
2004-05  Victoriaville  QMJHL   65    5    8    13   47
2005-06  Victoriaville  QMJHL   69   22   43   65  116   
2006-07  Victoriaville  QMJHL   69   17   53   70  106
2007-08  Texas            ECHL      2      0    3      3    0  
2007-08  Houston        AHL        50    8     8    16   48   
         QMJHL TOTALS               203   44  104  148  269

P L A Y O F F S
Season     GP   G   A   PTS  PIM
2004-05     7     0    0     0     8
2005-06     5     2    4     6     7
2006-07     6     2    1     3     8
2007-08     0     0    0     0     0
2007-08     5     0    0     0     4
TOTALS    18   4    5     9    23