AEROS ANNOUNCE SEASON-OPENING ROSTER
25 PLAYERS INCLUDING 15 RETURNEES AND EIGHT ROOKIES SET FOR SEASON-OPENER AT OKLAHOMA CITY

HOUSTON --- The American Hockey League’s (AHL) Houston Aeros, affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, today announced their season-opening roster. A total of 25 players will be available as the Aeros play their first game of the 2010-11 season at Oklahoma City Saturday night.

Of those 25 players, 15 were members of the Aeros during the 2009-10 campaign. Among the returnees are forwards Jean-Michel Daoust, who led the team with 55 points (21-34-55) last season, and Jon DiSalvatore, who captained the club and finished second in scoring with 52 points (21-31-52). Defenseman Maxim Noreau led all Aeros defensemen and finished tied with DiSalvatore in scoring (18-34-52). He also finished tied for first in goal scoring among all AHL defenseman.

Aeros rookies include defenseman Marco Scandella, a second round draft pick of the Wild in 2008, who played in seven games for the Aeros last season after finishing his major junior hockey career. Nate Prosser became the sixth Minnesota native to play in a game for the Wild after he signed with the team after finishing his career at Colorado College. Prosser led all team defensemen and ranked second among WCHA blueliners with 28 points. Jarod Palmer signed as a free agent with the Wild after a standout season at the University of Miami-Ohio. Palmer, also a Minnesota native, bagged 45 points (18-27-45) in 44 games last season and never missed a game over his four-year career.

Rookie Matt Hackett and fifth-year pro Josh Tordjman will backstop the Aeros. Hackett posted a 33-18-3 record at Plymouth in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season. He ranked second in the OHL in save percentage (.925), third in wins and fifth in GAA. He also represented the Western Conference team at the OHL All-Star Classic. Tordjman spent the better part of the last four seasons with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). He also appeared in two games for the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) during the 2008-09 season.

The Aeros open the season at Oklahoma City against the Barons on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Follow the Aeros all season long on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O’Donnell providing the play-by-play call.
The team begins the home half of the schedule on Saturday, October 16, at 7:35 p.m. when they host the Peoria Rivermen at Toyota Center.  For ticket information, visit AEROS.COM or call 713-974-PUCK (7825).


2010-11 HOUSTON AEROS SEASON-OPENING ROSTER

                                               

#                             Player (Pronunciation) 

4                              Jamie Fraser (FRAY-zer)               

6                              Marco Scandella (scan-DELL-uh)               

10                           Peter Zingoni (zin-GOH-nee)     

12                           Cody Almond    

14                           Jon DiSalvatore (deh-SAL-vuh-tohr)       

15                           Nate Prosser     

17                           Robbie Earl        

18                           Colton Gillies (GILL-eez)               

19                           Jarod Palmer     

20                           Chad Rau (ROWH -- like now)    

23                           Petr Kalus (KAL-us)        

25                           Warren Peters 

26                           Maxim Noreau (MAX-uhm naw-roh)     

27                           Carson McMillan             

28                           Jared Spurgeon (SPUR-jin)         

29                           Drew Bagnall     

32                           Kris Fredheim (FRED-haym)       

38                           Brandon Rogers               

39                           Brandon Buck   

42                           Matt Kassian     

56                           Joel Broda          

61                           Tyler Cuma (KOOH-muh)             

62                           Jean-Michel Daoust (DAH-ooh)

#                             Goaltenders (Pronunciation)    

31                           Matt Hackett    

41                           Josh Tordjman (TORJ-man)        

 
---AEROS.COM---