Giroux and Riopel win TELUS player of the week awards

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, October 1, 2007 – Gatineau Olympiques forward Claude Giroux and Moncton Wildcats goaltender Nicola Riopel today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from September 24 to 30.

Back from the Philadelphia Flyers’ training camp, Giroux netted two game-winning goals and added five helpers while maintaining an impressive +4 (plus/minus) differential in his first three regular season outings. He posted back-to-back three-point games in victories over the red-hot Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Victoriaville Tigres. Giroux helped the Olympiques earn five out of a possible six points in the standings this week.

Mathieu Perreault (1-5-6) and Dany Massé (4-1-5) of Acadie-Bathurst as well as Matthew Pistilli (5-1-6) of Gatineau were also considered.

The defensive player of the week award goes to Moncton Wildcats backstop Nicola Riopel. In three games, he posted three wins, including a shutout, while maintaining a 1.00 goals-against-average and .969 save percentage. He helped his team defeat the Voltigeurs 4-1 (26 saves), the Rocket 2-0 (28 saves) and the Titan 3-2 (37 saves) on the road. Moreover, Riopel earned a star in each of his three starts.

Defensemen Ivan Vishnevskiy (2-1-3;+4) of Rouyn-Noranda and Maxime Mallette (0-3-3;+4) of Gatineau as well as goaltender Raffaele D’Orso (2-1-1; 1 SO; 125 MIN; 0.96 GAA; .971 SAV%) of Val-d’Or were also considered.