Jeff Richards, the Kenora Komet, played five stellar seasons for the Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team and his list of accomplishments and records makes a long reading list.
Some of his accomplishments include OUA MVP, Four-time OUA All Star, two-time CIS All-Canadian, CIS and OUA All Rookie, CIS National Championships All Tournament Team selection, and member of OUA Selects Team and CIS Team Canada for 2005 Winter Universiade.
Richards holds many Lakehead hockey records such as most points (183) and goals (90) in an OUA career, points and goals in an OUA season (24 goals and 26 assists), most points in an OUA season as a rookie (38), most goals in a career (126), most goals in a game (4), and he stands a close second in overall Lakehead scoring (252 on 126 goals and 126 assists) to ex-captain Joel Scherban (263). Richards also holds the points per game record for Lakehead in all categories; averaging out to 1.5 ppg in 168 overall games. If he had played all of the possible games in his Lakehead career; he would have most likely set the Wolves overall points record as he played 39 games less than Scherban, both playing five seasons for Lakehead. There are many other records Richards holds for the Wolves and they are too numerous to list here.
This season, although hampered by a nagging injury and only playing 16 regular season games, Richards still led the team in goals (17) and was third in regular season scoring with 31 points and 1.91 ppg. He did lead the team in overall scoring with 28 goals and 19 assists in 28 games for a 1.81 ppg mark.
Richards will long be remembered by Lakeheads faithful fans as a player who brought excitement, skill, speed, and finesse; as well being the most talented scorer in Thunderwolves hockey history. Richards is graduating with his degree in Education (Teachers Certification) and is looking forward to a career in both hockey and teaching.
Lakehead Athletic Director Tom Warden said Richards left a lasting legacy at Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey. Jeff is quite possibly not only the most talented player to ever wear a Thunderwolves jersey but also one of the most talented to play CIS hockey. Id like to thank him for his contributions to the success of our hockey program over the past five years and to wish him success in his future careers as a hockey player and a teacher.
This writer will remember Jeff as a good friend who went out of his way to make the day of my very sick nephew, also a Kenora native who had been one of Jeffs hockey camp students in Kenora last summer. My nephew was celebrating his eighth birthday at a Thunderwolves game this season. Jeff was injured at the time and went up into the stands to bring my nephew an autographed stick with all the Wolves signatures as well as a Philadelphia Flyers jersey, autographed by all the Flyers, sent by Jeffs cousin Mike Richards. Jeff sat with my nephew and took photos with him and my nephew was absolutely thrilled and I believe that day helped my nephew on his road to recovery. That is the kind of man Jeff Richards is and this is the memory of Jeff that I will always cherish and I wish him all the best in his future career; both on and off the ice.
Q & A with Jeff Richards:
1) What are your fondest memories as a Lakehead varsity athlete?
Richards: My fondest moments as a student athlete would have to be both trips to National