Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Nicola Riopel of the Moncton Wildcats is the CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 10. Riopel won three games including a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 1.67 and save percentage of .928.
Riopel’s best performance of the week was played Sunday when he recorded his first shutout of the season making 25 saves as third star of a 3-0 win over the Halifax Mooseheads. He was tested earlier on in the week against some tough competition last Wednesday night when he made 26 saves to beat the QMJHL’s top ranked team the Saint John Sea Dogs by a score of 5-3. On Saturday night he made 13 saves in a 6-2 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Riopel, a 20-year-old from St-Pie-De-Bagot, QC, is playing in fourth full QMJHL season with the Wildcats. A fifth round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Riopel has a 6-1-0-0 record since his recent return to Moncton. Last season he won this award an impressive three times and was also named the QMJHL’s Most Valuable Player.
Also considered for the award this week was Todd Mathews of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice and Brandon Maxwell of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. Mathews was impressive this week earning three victories including two big wins over the Calgary Hitmen and Saskatoon Blades posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962. Maxwell won both of his games between the pipes with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and a save percentage of .947.
2009-10 CHL Goaltenders of the Week
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Nicola Riopel, Moncton Wildcats
Dec. 27 – Jan. 3: Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer Rebels
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Drew Owsley, Tri-City Americans
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Ian Curtis, Portland Winterhawks
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Nathan Dunnett, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Mavric Parks, Kitchener Rangers
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Robin Lehner, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Calvin Pickard, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: James Reid, Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Garrett Zemlak, Prince Albert Raiders
Oct. 19 – 25: Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Oct. 12 – 18: Troy Passingham, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 5 – 11: Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs
Sept. 21-27: Andrew Hayes, Brandon Wheat Kings
Sept. 14-20: Maxime Clermont, Gatineau Olympiques
Photo by David Connell