The Philadelphia Flyers announced today the signing of four players – goaltender Nicola Riopel and defensemen Logan Stephenson, J.P. Testwuide and Jesse Dudas – to American Hockey League contracts for the 2010-11 season, according to club general manager Paul Holmgren.

Riopel, 21 (2/20/89; 6-0, 185 lbs), was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  During the 2009-10 season, he appeared in 11 games for the Flyers American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, posting a 4-6 record with a 3.35 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. 

Riopel was assigned to the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on December 17, 2009 and went on to help the team win the 2009-10 QMJHL championship.  He posted a record of 19-5, a 2.06 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 33 regular season appearances.  In the playoffs, Riopel posted a 16-4 record, a 2.38 GAA and a .930 save percentage as Moncton earned a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.

A native of St.-Pie-de-Bagot, Quebec, Riopel appeared in 239 games over five seasons with Moncton, earning a career record of 94-61 and posting a 2.51 GAA and .915 save percentage. 

Stephenson, 24 (2/19/86; 6-3, 210 lbs), enters his fifth professional season and second with the Phantoms.  In 2009-10, the native of Outlook, Saskatchewan appeared in 62 games for Adirondack, posting a goal and seven assists while collecting 140 penalty minutes. 

Stephenson has spent his entire professional career in the American Hockey League.  In 269 games, he has seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points along with 416 PIM.  He was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round (35th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.  

Testwuide, 25 (11/5/84; 6-0, 205 lbs), comes to the Phantoms from the AHL’s Houston Aeros, where he registered two goals, six assists and 111 penalty minutes over 58 games during his rookie season in 2009-10. 

In a four-year career at the University of Denver, Testwuide posted five goals and 23 assists for 28 points and accrued 282 penalty minutes.  The Vail, Colo. native is the older brother of forward Mike Testwuide, who signed a contract with the Flyers in March.

Dudas, 22 (3/31/88; 6-2, 215 lbs), split time last season between Bloomington of the International Hockey League and Corpus Christi of the Central Hockey League.  In a total of 24 games, he recorded five goals and seven assists for 12 points.

Originally from St. Albert, Alberta, Dudas spent six seasons in the Western Hockey League with Lethbridge, Swift Current and Regina.  He posted 11 goals and 82 assists for 93 points and 238 penalty minutes in 175 career WHL games.  Dudas was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.