Make sure to follow www.aeros.com all week long for official training camp news, notes and interviews.

From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Monday, September 27, 2004
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

It's Hockey Time as Aeros Open Camp With Enthusiasm

Roster at 42 as Aeros start trek towards Calder Cup

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros, under the guidance of head coach Todd McLellan, open their 2004 Training Camp today at the Sugar Land Aerodrome. Forty-two players underwent physicals this morning and will take the ice in two shifts beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The Aeros’ roster includes a trio of Minnesota Wild first-round draft picks (Mikko Koivu, Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard), nine of the top 10 prospects in the Wild organization and two of the Dallas Stars’ top 10 prospects. The Aeros training camp roster sports 14 players with a combined 908 games of NHL experience, including 11 players who saw NHL action in 2003-04.

Twenty of Houston’s 42 players are 22 years old or younger, with the youngest being 19-year-old defensemen Brent Burns, while Todd Reirden, 33, is the elder statesman. Nowhere is youth more prevalent than at the goaltender position, where 23-year-old Kyle Kettles is the oldest. He’s fighting it out with 20-year-old Josh Harding, Minnesota’s highest ever drafted goalie and third-rated prospect; 22-year-old Mike Smith, ranked 10th in the Stars organization and second among netminders; and 20-year-old rookie Robert Gherson.

The Aeros have 16 returning players (forwards Jason Beckett, Derek Boogaard, Christoph Brandner, Dan Cavanaugh, Marc Cavosie, Mark Cullen, Matt Foy, Jordan Krestanovich, Stephane Veilleux, Rickard Wallin and Kyle Wanvig; defensemen Maxime Fortunus, Chris Heid, Zbynek Michalek and Erik Reitz; and goalie Kyle Kettles). Eight of last season’s top 11 scorers return, including Wanvig, whose 41 points (25-16=41) topped the 2003-04 Aeros squad. Eight players also remain from the 2003 Calder Cup championship team.

There are 13 rookies in camp, perhaps none more heralded than 2004 Hobey Baker winner Junior Lessard. Lessard, 24, is the first Hobey Baker winner to suit up for the Aeros. Houston also has a pair of AHL All Stars in defenseman Raymond Giroux and right winger Kirby Law, who each signed as free agents this summer.

This will mark the first time in Aeros’ history that they have had three No. 1 picks on their roster at one time. In 2000-01, Houston had three first-rounders play (Tom Chorske, Nick Stajduhar and Zarley Zalapski), but no more than two were ever on the roster at once. In their 10-year history, the Aeros have had 12 No. 1 picks play for them – including Burns in 2003-04.

Training Camp Roster

Goaltenders (4) – Robert Gherson, Josh Harding, Kyle Kettles, Mike Smith
Defensemen (12) – Dan Boeser, Brent Burns, John Erskine, Maxime Fortunus, Raymond Giroux, Chris Heid, Zbynek Michalek, Sheldon Nedjelski, Todd Reirden, Erik Reitz, Ryan Stokes, Patrick Traverse
Forwards (26) – Dallas Anderson, David Bararuk, Jason Beckett, Derek Boogaard, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Christoph Brandner, Dan Cavanaugh, Marc Cavosie, Mark Cullen, Matt Foy, Marius Holtet, Bill Kinkel, Mikko Koivu, Mike Kompon, Jordan Krestanovich, Kirby Law, Junior Lessard, Dave Morisset, Jeff Neufeld, Pascal Pelletier, Mark Rooneem, Scott Selig, Stephane Veilleux, Rickard Wallin, Kyle Wanvig, Chad Woollard

Minnesota Wild Top 10 Prospects (The Hockey News)

Bold indicates in Aeros' Training Camp

1. Mikko Koivu, C
2. Patrick O’Sullivan, C
3. Josh Harding, G
4. Kyle Wanvig, RW
5. Matt Foy, RW
6. Rickard Wallin, C
7. Zbynek Michalek, D
8. Erik Reitz, D
9. Chris Heid, D
10. Stephane Veilleux, LW

Dallas Stars Top 10 Prospects (The Hockey News)

1. Loui Eriksson, LW
2. Antti Miettinen, RW
3. Shawn Belle, D
4. Junior Lessard, RW
5. Jussi Jokinen, C
6. Dan Ellis, G
7. Vojtech Polak, LW
8. Jared Hagos, C
9. Brandon Crombeen, RW
10. Mike Smith, G

Houston Aeros Training Camp Schedule, Week 1

All practices are Sugar Land Aerodrome

Monday, 9/27
7 a.m. - Physicals
2:30-3:45 - Team A practice
4-5:15 - Team B practice

Tuesday, 9/28
8:30-9:30 - Team A practice
9:45-10:45 - Team B practice
2:15-3:45 - Team A vs. Team B scrimmage

Wednesday, 9/29
8:30-9:30 - Team B practice
9:45-10:45 - Team A practice
2:15-3:45 - Team A vs. Team B scrimmage

Thursday, 9/30
8:30-9:30 - Team A practice
9:45-10:45 - Team B practice
2:15-3:45 - Team A vs. Team B scrimmage

Friday, 10/1
9:45-10:15 - Pre-game skate
10:30-11:45 - Practice for players not traveling to San Antonio
7 - Aeros at San Antonio pre-season game

Saturday, 10/2
9:30-10 - Pre-game skate
10-11 - Practice for players not playing against San Antonio
7 - San Antonio at Aeros, Sugar Land Aerodrome

Sunday, 10/3
11:45-12:45 - Practice session


--- Houston Aeros, Be a Fan ---

Houston Aeros hockey – Striving for excellence to ensure all fans great pride, entertainment, and community in being a part of our organization