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Flyers Sign Syvret, Rinaldo, Riopel and Sloane...

August 11, 2009, 2:38 PM ET [ Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed defenseman Danny Syvret to a one-year contract, center Zac Rinaldo to a three-year entry-level contract and goaltender Nicola Riopel and defenseman David Sloane to one-year American Hockey League contracts, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Syvret, 24, recorded new career highs in points (57), goals (12) and assists (45) in 76 games with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, this past season. He led the Phantoms in assists and finished third on the team and led the defense in points, which also ranked second among AHL defensemen. He represented the Phantoms in the AHL All-Star Classic, while also appearing in two games with the Flyers.

A native of Millgrove, Ontario, Syvret has accumulated 117 points (18G,99A) in 258 regular season AHL games and over parts of three seasons with the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers (2005-06 to 2006-07; 2008-09), he has one assist and 12 penalty minutes in 28 regular season NHL games.

Rinaldo, 19, completed his second full season in the Ontario Hockey League, where he posted 30 points (10G,20A) and 201 penalty minutes in 56 games. He split time between the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, recording 13 points (6G,7A) and 112 penalty minutes in 34 games prior to being traded to the London Knights, where he posted 17 points (4G,13A) and 89 penalty minutes in 22 games.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Rinaldo has posted 44 points (17G,27A) and 394 penalty minutes in 125 regular season games in the OHL. He was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (178th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Riopel, 20, was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after finishing a three-year career with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 2008-09, he posted a 43-15-0 record with a 2.01 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 59 appearances, including five shutouts. He was awarded the Michel Briere Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the QMJHL and Jacque Plante Trophy for having the best goals-against average (2.01 – new QMJHL record), and was also named to the QMJHL’s First All-Star Team.

A native of St. Pie De Bagot, Quebec, Riopel spent three seasons of play in Moncton, where he compiled a record of 75-56-0 with a 2.67 GAA, .915 save percentage and seven shutouts in 143 appearances. He also has a 6-8 career postseason record with a 2.76 GAA, .914 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 games.

Sloane, 24, made his NHL debut, appearing in one game with the Flyers (April 9 at NY Rangers) in 2008-09 after spending the previous four seasons at Colgate University, where he posted four assists and 37 penalty minutes in 35 games in his senior season and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.

A native of Ambler, Pennsylvania, Sloane appeared in 129 career games at Colgate, recording 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points and 100 penalty minutes. He also played for the Phantoms this past season, recording two penalty minutes in one contest.
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