FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Jan. 14, 2011

MINNESOTA WILD ASSIGNS O’SULLIVAN TO HOUSTON

HOUSTON --- Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has reassigned forward Patrick O’Sullivan to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL).
 
O’Sullivan, 25 (2/1/85), posted seven points (1-6=7) in 21 games with the Wild after he was acquired on waivers from Carolina on Nov. 23. O’Sullivan posted one goal in 10 games for the Hurricanes this season. O’Sullivan has played 311 NHL games with Minnesota, Los Angeles, Edmonton and Carolina, registering 157 points (56-101=157). He was Minnesota’s second-round pick (No. 56 overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and was traded by the Wild to Los Angeles along with a first-round pick for Pavol Demitra on June 24, 2006.

O’Sullivan played for the Aeros in the 2005-06 season, winning the league’s top rookie award after netting 47 goals. His 93-point campaign (47-46=93) is the third-highest point total by Aeros player in one AHL season while his 47-goals rank first overall. O’Sullivan also notched other entries into the Aeros AHL record book; he is tied for first overall with seven game-winning goals, is tied for second with 17 power play goals and is fifth with 46 assists. He notched a pair of hat tricks, the most-ever in one season by an Aeros rookie, in his lone Aeros season.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward was born in Toronto, Ont., but lived in Winston-Salem, N.C., until he was eight and was a member of the Team USA Gold-medal winning team at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championships.

Prior to turning pro, he finished fifth in Ontario Hockey League scoring in 2004-05 with 90 points in 57 games while leading the Mississauga IceDogs to the Central Division Championship. O’Sullivan led the IceDogs in points (90), goals (31) and assists (59), and claimed OHL Player of the Week honors three times. He was also named the league’s February Player of the Month after notching 25 points and 10 goals in a 12-game span that included eight multi-point games.

The Aeros continue a run of four games in five nights tonight at Chicago. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. CST at the Allstate Arena. The team returns home for a pair of games vs. the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday (7:35 p.m.) and Sunday (4:05 p.m.).

Arrive early on Saturday and receive an official Aeros 2010-11 Team Photo. On Sunday, the Aeros celebrate Team Mascot Chilly’s 15th birthday with Chillypalooza. Mascots from around the Houston Area will be on hand to take part in the festivities including an intermission broomball game against the Sugarland Mites (4-8 years old) hockey team. Family Day ticket packs start at $67 and include four tickets, free parking, Aeros souvenirs and $20 in Toyota Center Bucks.

Call 713-974-7825 (PUCK) for more information on Aeros tickets and other promotions.