8th year net minder Nick Riopel(32) has been under contract with Syracuse Crunch for the past couple of campaigns but has only seen 18:42 minutes of perfect play in a 4-2 loss.
The 6′ 188 lbs. has played 166 ECHL games posting a 84-62-8-4 record with 4 shutouts and a 2.95 GAA and .906 SV%.
Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#142 overall), he never signed but did start 2009/2010 with affiliate Adirondack Phantoms but was returned to junior club Moncton Wildcats for his final year and helped them with the 2010 QMJHL Championship.
He would start his rookie season on reassignment to Greenville Road Warriors but was recalled for 11 more AHL appearances before being sent back.
His next move saw him ink a deal to stay in South Carolina for a full run and although he didn’t have outstanding stats it helped set up a transfer overseas to Dundee Stars of the EIHL.
He stayed for two more seasons, one in Denmark’s Metal Ligaen and a follow up with Dragons de Rouen, where he won the 2015 Ligue Magnus Championship.
Returning to North America for his next venture would see him play mostly for Norfolk Admirals and he was able to elevate his game to a level that got him notice from the higher league.
A recent trade to Bakersfield Condors has sent him to Wichita Thunder but he could very well see some more time with Edmonton Oilers‘ farm team.
At 28-years old he could easily find another deal to head back across the pond or he may just want to continue to ply his trade here.