Surrey native Aaron Voros (right) positions himself in front of Colorado Avalanche defenceman Scott Hannan during a game last season in Denver. A free agent following his rookie season in the NHL, Voros signed July 1 with the New York Rangers.
Voros now a Ranger
By Rick Kupchuk - Surrey North Delta Leader
Published: July 02, 2008 11:00 AM
Updated: July 02, 2008 5:04 PM
It was a memorable Canada Day for NHLer Aaron Voros.
One day before his 27th birthday, the free agent from Surrey signed with the New York Rangers, two months after completing his rookie season with the Minnesota Wild.
Voros played junior hockey with the Victoria Salsa of the B.C. Hockey League, then spent three seasons with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the eighth round of the 2001 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft, the six-foot-three, 202-pound winger turned pro with the Albany River Rats in the 2003-04 season, and spent five seasons in the America hockey League before he was called up by the Wild for his NHL debut in Denver Nov. 11 against the Colorado Avalanche.
Five days later, he netted his first NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place.
Voros scored 44 goals and 91 points in 223 AHL contests, playing with Albany, the Lowell Devils and the Houston Aeros.
In 55 NHL games last season, he scored seven goals, added seven assists and was assessed 141 penalty minutes. He added one goal in five playoff contests, before the Wild were eliminated by the Avalanche in the first round.
Following the regular season, the rookie was the Wild nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, given annually to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
