Wild Recall Shawn Belle

[VodkaFish]

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled D Shawn Belle from the American Hockey League's (AHL) Houston Aeros, the Wild's primary development affiliate.

Belle, 21 (1/3/85), was in the midst of his second season with the Aeros and has notched nine points (1-8=9) in 21 games with Houston this season, where he ranks third among team defensemen in points and is tied for second in assists.

The 6-foot-2, 238-pound defenseman spent five seasons with Tri City of the Western Hockey League (WHL) before seeing action in 45 games last season with the AHL's Iowa Stars. Belle notched three points (1-2=3) and 63 penalty minutes (PIM) in Iowa before being acquired via a March 9 trade between the Wild and the Dallas Stars. In that trade, Belle was brought to the Wild, along with D Martin Skoula, in exchange for Willie Mitchell and a second round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Belle was assigned to the Aeros, where he tallied two points (1-1=2) in the remaining 16 games of the regular season and added one goal in eight postseason games.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Belle was originally selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (30th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He will wear sweater No. 4 with the Wild.

[JKidd]

With Foster getting hurt last night, this is a needed call up. Hopefully Belle can come up and be physical, unlike a lot of Wild defenseman.

[wellzy]

u know its about time somebody called this kid up. I have seen him play in person a couple times and he has to be one of the smoothest skaters i have ever seen. For the size of him, he can move well. Good call for the wild cause iam sure that he can help them out on defense. Good hitter and will drop the gloves if needs be.

[cooke-swallows]

Foster is so damn fragile for a big guy, he gets hurt way too often. Walz would have bounced right back from that shot. Too bad warriors are a dying breed.

Hey Jkidd, is Belle a decent scrapper? I watched him in preseason and he can hit and skate. Good to see him in the show.

[Toe2tOe55]

I hope this guy can fight, so we can see some fights. Boogaard is stil out

[JKidd]

Belle is more than able to hold his own against other guys. He can deffinately help the physical aspect of our soft blue liners, especially with fragile Foster going down and being our only real physical threat on the blue line.

I dont expect him to fight, but if the need is there, like Manny or Backy getting ran, he'll be more than able to drop the gloves with someone.

[TheBoogeyman]

I like this move by the wild. I was wondering if this kid would ever get the call up. Hes a big guy, throws hard checks, and can drop the gloves unlike the rest of the pu$$ies on the wild. Hopefully he plays like hes got something to prove, cause he does.

[paint huffer]

I'm surprised it took him this long to get a call up. After watching him in the WJHC two years ago I was expecting him to crack an NHL lineup sooner than this. He didn't look out of place at all on the Canadian blueline beside the likes of Phaneuf. Not saying he's anywhere near Phaneuf, but he could still play with players of Phaneuf calibre no problem. As someone else mentioned he's very smooth skating and a big body. He doesn't score much but from what I've seen of him he has a deceptively accurate shot when he wants to fire it.

[mongoose]

he is a big kid that could really help.

[ffaug]

As an Aeros fan, I really hate to see him go. But, I will be in Dallas this weekend to see the Wild take on the Stars.