RIOPEL'S RETURN AGAINST SAINT JOHN

PRESS RELEASE
Moncton, NB - The Moncton Wildcats announced today the return of goaltender Nicola Riopel to the team following the Christmas break. Riopel, an outstanding member of the Cats both on and off the ice, brings a number of QMJHL and Wildcats records with him.

He was named the Most Valuable Player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season after leading the Wildcats to a league record of 149 goals against in 68 regular season games. Riopel played 59 games, had an outstanding 2.05 goals against average and a save percentage of.930. He also established the Wildcats goaltending record of 43 wins for a single season.

Fans will have the opportunity to welcome Riopel back to the Coliseum when the Cats host the Saint John Sea Dogs in round four of the Rivalry Cup scheduled for New Year's Eve at 7 pm.

The 20 year-old was drafted in the fifth round of last June's NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and has appeared in 10 games with the Flyers American League farm team the Adirondack Phantoms.