From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Sunday, September 26, 2004
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

FIRST-ROUNDER NO. 3; BURNS SIGNS

Final Training Camp roster at 42

HOUSTON, Texas – The American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros have signed 19-year-old defenseman Brent Burns, general manager Tom Lynn announced Sunday. Forty-two players will don Aeros sweaters tomorrow beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Sugar Land Aerodrome to open 2004 Training Camp. The Aeros training camp roster (Player Bios) sports 14 players with a combined 908 games of NHL experience.

Burns, 19, was the Wild’s No. 1 pick (No. 20 overall) in 2003, and he joins Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard as first-round selections at training camp. Houston’s roster includes nine of the Minnesota Wild’s top 10 prospects, as ranked by The Hockey News, and two of Dallas’ top 10 prospects.

Burns became the youngest Aero to suit up for the team when he played on a conditioning assignment February 25 as an 18-year-old. He posted six points (1-5=6) in 36 games with Minnesota, while also participating for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Finland. Burns and Aeros teammate Josh Harding helped the Canadians to the silver medal, losing to the Americans and Wild prospect Patrick O’Sullivan in the Gold Medal Game. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound native of Ajax, Ont., is the third Wild No. 1 pick to make the jump to the NHL the same year he was drafted.

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.

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


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