Houston Aeros | CollegeHockeyPlayers

10Feb

Rob Mignardi(29) Houston Aeros

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It didn’t take undrafted rookie right wing Rob Mignardi(29) long to find a new AHL home after being released from his pto with Manchester Monarchs. In fact, it very well could have happened in the same day but took a day to report to the transaction wire.

He skated 23 games with them and put up 2 goals and an assist after signing a pto in December. In fact, he was part of Los Angeles Kings‘ prospect system and attended their rookie and training camps but seemingly never inked a contract with the team. He did sign with their ECHL affiliate Ontario Reign in November but did not play in a game with them before being loaned to the Monarchs for the last couple of months.

Before he could potentially board a flight to California though, Houston Aeros immediately signed him to a pto and he’ll switch to the Western Conference and look to contribute more than he was able to in New Hampshire.

At 6′ 186 lbs. he’s got good size already for a 21-year old.

26Jan

Justin Falk(4) Minnesota Wild

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Large-sized (6’5″ 215 lbs.) Minnesota Wild defenseman Justin Falk(4) got his first NHL goal in his fourth season with the team.

He was originally a 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#110 overall) and has career highs this year for games played (29), goals (1), assists (4) and points (5). This also looks to be his first full season in the big league.

He’s skated in 233 games (including 44 Calder Cup Playoff contests) over 3 years with their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros. The 2010/2011 season was a big breakout year for the 23-year old in points and overall play, as he’s growing into his game nicely.

21Jan

Colton Gillies(18) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Former 1st round pick, center Colton Gillies(18) was handed a new two-year, one-way deal with Minnesota Wild and played 37 games with the team this season. The downside was he only recorded 2 assists.

With little point production for the slumping team, he was put on the waivers to be reassigned to their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.

That was all the motivation last place Columbus Blue Jackets needed, as they claimed him to hopefully bolster their offense with his sizable 6’4″ frame.

In his first game with the team he was initially credited for a goal but was later changed to an assist. Either way, it was a good way for him to start a new phase in his career with the Blue Jackets.

01Jan

Jon DiSalvatore(14) Houston Aeros

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Houston Aeros‘ captain and 9 year veteran left winger, Jon DiSalvatore(14) earned his first NHL call-up since the 2005-2006 season when he was with St. Louis Blues.

This was only his sixth ever game in the big league. He skated a total of 14:27 including time on the power play and had 2 shots on net and 2 penalty minutes. He was reassigned back to the Aeros the next day.

In 635 AHL games he has 188 goals and 269 assists. He has scored 20 or more goals in all of his previous 8 pro seasons and looks to be on his way to a 9th consecutive 20 goal campaign as he already has 10 in 33 games.

He was originally a 4th round pick in the 2000 draft by San Jose Sharks (#104 overall).

31Dec

Jarod Palmer(19) Minnesota Wild

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In his 6th NHL game, undrafted 2nd year Minnesota Wild center Jarod Palmer(19) scored his first goal in his team’s win over Edmonton Oilers. He also suffered an upper body injury, which will sideline him for at least one upcoming game.

At the time of his recall he had 4 goals to go along with 6 assists and a +8 plus/minus in 26 games with their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.

In his rookie season, he put up 9 goals and 19 assists in 65 regular season games and another 3 goals and 2 assists in 24 Calder Cup playoff games.

He was originally signed by the Wild to a one-year, two-way deal in 2010 and received a qualifying offer to keep him in the fold for 2011/2012.

20Dec

Jed Ortmeyer(22) Minnesota Wild

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33-year old undrafted 9th year vet wing Jed Ortmeyer(22) has skated in 311 NHL games counting his current call up to Minnesota Wild, a team he has been signed with for the last couple seasons mostly for his leadership with the younger guys on their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.

In 4 games with the Wild in 2010/2011 he failed to register a point but he plays big and can’t really shut opposing players done.

Throughout his career he skated 3 years with New York Rangers to start, followed by a couple of seasons in Nashville Predators‘ system and then his career best full season with San Jose Sharks in 2009/2010 (8 goals, 11 assists) before ending up in Minnesota.

In his first NHL game of 2011/2012, he skated almost 12 minutes of ice time.

19Dec

Aaron Voros(34) Connecticut Whale

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8th year wing Aaron Voros(34) signed a pto with Connecticut Whale in mid-November. In 10 games he’s posted 2 goals and 2 assists. He’s played 261 AHL games with 6 different teams.

Originally drafted in the 8th round of 2001 (#229 overall) by New Jersey Devils, he played for three years in their system without ever receiving a call-up. He was traded to Minnesota Wild in the last year of his entry level contract and played his first game with the team in the next season.

Over the next 4 seasons he would appear in 162 NHL games with Minnesota, mostly notably New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks putting up 18 goals, 19 assists and 395 penalty minutes.

He’s a big presence on the ice at 6’4″ and 215 lbs.

16Dec

Cody Almond(12) Minnesota Wild

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3rd year, Minnesota Wild 2007 3rd round pick (#140 overall) center Cody Almond(12) is in the final year of his entry level contract and has played 22 NHL games on call-up from their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros over the last few seasons.

He’s found himself a nice spot on the Wild. Since his recall in the beginning of December, he’s appeared in 7 games scoring 1 goal while playing an average of 12 minutes a game.

It helps that Mike Yeo, his coach with the Wild is the same guy who coached him to the Calder Cup Finals with Houston last year.

Almond has put up 2 goals and 5 assists in 10 games with the Aeros this season but due to some glitch, since his recall his name or stats are nowhere to be found on the team’s site.

12/19: After 8 games with the Wild, Almond is reassigned to Houston.

08Dec

Matt Hackett (31)

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Minnesota Wild‘s 2009 3rd round pick (#77 overall) goaltender Matt Hackett(31) received his 2nd call up of the season.

He barely made it in time to ride the pine for the game before being sent back.

During this time up though, he was pressed into action after starting goalie Josh Harding went down with a rather bizarre neck injury early in the first period.

He stopped 29 of 29 shots to get the win in his NHL debut.

His first season with the Wild‘s AHL affiliate Houston Aeros was quite a ride that ended in the Calder Cup Finals.

24Oct

Carson McMillan(27) Houston Aeros

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Minnesota Wild’s 2007 7th round draft pick (#200 overall) wing Carson McMillan(27) gets the honor of being on the list of five as one of the first players suspended in the 2011/2012 AHL season for an illegal hit to the head. He’ll sit four games.

He’s a pretty sizable presence at 6’1″ 200 lbs. and has always put up above average pims each season.

Strange little fact about his pro career, in one of his 4 NHL games played last year, he scored a goal on his very first shot on net. That’s got to be worth something.