Wild Recalls Kuemper and Dowell, Assigns Zucker and Hackett
March 24, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher announced on Sunday the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled forward Jake Dowell and goaltender Darcy Kuemper from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL). The Wild assigned forward Jason Zucker and goaltender Matt Hackett to Houston. Houston Aeros General Manager Jim Mill also announced the team has released forward Kirk MacDonald from a professional tryout agreement.
Dowell, 28 (3/4/85), has seven points (4-37) and 29 penalty minutes (PIM) in 26 games for the Aeros this season. The 6-foot, 202-pound native of Eau Claire, Wisc., was signed by the Wild as a free agent July 4, 2012. Dowell has skated 154 NHL games with Chicago and Dallas, posting 33 points (11-2233) and 133 PIM.
Kuemper, 22 (5/5/90), is 1-2-0 with a 2.22 GAA and a .924 SV% in four games (three starts) with the Wild this season. He made his NHL debut Feb. 12 at Vancouver and won his first NHL game Feb. 17 against Detroit. With Houston this season, Kuemper is 13-7-0 with a 1.78 GAA and a .937 SV%. The 6-foot-5, 207-pound native of Saskatoon, Sask., was the Wild's sixth-round selection (No. 161 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Zucker, 21 (1/16/92), totaled five points (4-15) and was a plus-five in 14 games with the Wild this season. He scored his first NHL goal in his season debut Feb. 17 versus Detroit. At the time of his recall, Zucker led the Aeros in scoring with 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 47 games. He also led Houston in power-play goals (10), power-play points (21) and shots on goal (175). The rookie forward was also named a Western Conference All-Star in January.
Hackett, 23 (3/7/90), was recalled by the Wild Mar. 8 and has not appeared in a game for the Wild this season. He is 19-19-3 with a 2.56 GAA and a .910 SV% in 42 games for Houston this season. Over the last three years with Houston, Hackett is 62-52-13 with a 2.44 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
Over two separate stints, MacDonald played in a total of six games with one assist and four penalty minutes with Houston. The 6-foot-2, 200 pound forward has spent the bulk of this season with Reading of the ECHL. He's played in 45 for the Royals this year, scoring 14 goals and added 21 assists for 35 points. The Victoria, BC native has played in 272 AHL games, mostly with Providence from 2008-12. For his AHL career, MacDonald has 45 goals and 61 assists for 106 points, to go along with 210 penalty minutes.
Houston continues a ten-game home stand at Toyota Center on Tuesday, Mar. 26 against Texas at 7:05 p.m. The Grand Rapids Griffins visit Houston at 7:05 p.m. on Friday Mar. 29. Friday is "Go Green" Night, powered by a Cell Phone drive. As part of going "Green", fans are asked to bring in old cell phones for a Cell Phone Drive. The Aeros will award two tickets for a select future home game for each phone donation (up to ten per person). Grand Rapids will return to Toyota Center on Tuesday, Apr. 2 at 7:05 p.m.
Information on mini-plans for the remainder of the season is 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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