Houston Aeros Sign NHL Veteran Defenseman Paul Mara
January 9, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
Houston, TX - Houston Aeros General Manager Jim Mill announced on Wednesday that the team has signed defenseman Paul Mara to a standard player contract (SPC) for the 2012-13 American Hockey League season.
The 33-year old Mara joins the Aeros after starting the season with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL. In 28 games with Ontario, the New Jersey native set up 17 goals and totaled 18 points. Mara has played the majority of his 13-year career in the NHL, spending time with Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks. In 734 NHL games, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman has scored 64 goals and added 189 assists for 253 points.
Mara has never played in the AHL, starting his first year pro in the IHL with the Detroit Vipers in 1999-2000. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
The Aeros will play at Texas on Friday, a 7:30 p.m. at the Cedar Park Center. Houston will return home on Saturday, Jan. 12 and Sunday, Jan 13. The Aeros host the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:05 p.m. on Jan. 12 and the Charlotte Checkers at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13. On Saturday, the first 3,000 fans to the game receive a "Rod Ryan" Bobblehead. Ryan is the popular-morning-show Host of 94.5 FM The Buzz's "Rod Ryan Morning Show". Also, every Sunday throughout the season is a Family Day, where fans may purchase four tickets, parking and four Aeros prizes starting at $54.
The Aeros will host a book drive, which begins on Saturday, Jan. 12 and concludes after the game on Sunday, Jan. 13. For every book that is donated, the Aeros will reward the donor with two tickets to a select home game (limit - five books per person). Fans may donate their books on the concourse by section 107. All the donated books will be collected and delivered to the Texas Children's Hospital, assisting the "It's My Heart" program. Any books (new or gently used) are accepted, but fans are encouraged to donate children's books. For more information, please contact Alicia Kouri of the Houston Aeros - akouri@aeros.com.
Aeros season tickets start as low as $9 per seat and may be purchased online at Aeros.com by placing a $100 deposit. Once your order is processed, an Aeros ticket representative will contact you to choose your exact seat location, as well as discuss the payment options. Information on season tickets and mini-plans is also available on the team website at www.aeros.com. Groups of 15 or more receive a discount on all tickets, to book your group outing to an Aeros game please call 713-974-PUCK (7825).
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