Riopel Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week
BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors
PRINCETON, NJ – Nic Riopel of the Greenville Road Warriors is the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Nov. 7-13.
The 22-year-old was 2-0-0 with a goals against average of 1.44 and a save percentage of .954 in two victories over South Carolina last week as the Road Warriors improved to 6-5-0 on the season.
Riopel opened the week with 28 saves in a 5-2 win on Thursday and then made 35 saves, and stopped five out of seven attempts in the shootout, as the Road Warriors prevailed 2-1.
A native of Beloeil, Quebec, Riopel twice won Goaltender of the Week honors during the 2010-11 season with Greenville. This season he is 6-1-0 with a goals against average of 3.00 and a save percentage of .905. His six wins are tied for third in the league.
A fifth-round selection (142nd overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Riopel has played in 45 career ECHL games with Greenville, posting a record of 30-13-2 with two shutouts, a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. He is also 7-13-0 in 21 career games in the AHL with the Adirondack Phantoms. Previously he played in 173 games in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, where he was named QMJHL Player of the Year in 2009.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return home to face the Gwinnett Gladiators on Thursday, December 8 at 7:35 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. Come out for the Road Warriors’ Throwback Thursday which features $2 draft beers, fountain drinks, pretzels and hot dogs, and $6 tickets for college students with a valid ID. Throwback Thursdays are sponsored by WSSL 100.5, The Greenville News, and New Rock 93.3. Don’t forget about great group packages that get you discounts off of the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Fans can call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to speak to a Road Warriors ticket representative and book their group outing.
