Former 'Q' standout comes back to North American after a French League Championship.
The Rapid City Rush announced the signing of its first goalie Wednesday. Nicola Riopel was the Philadelphia Flyers fifth round draft pick in 2009, and last played in the ECHL in 2012, when he played in 25 games for the Greenville Road Warriors.
Riopel posted a 19-7 record and a 2.51 GAA last season for the Rouen Dragons of the French League en route to a French Cup Championship. The 26-year-old from Otterburn Park, Quebec will play his sixth season of professional hockey, and returns to North America for the first time since leaving Greenville.