TEMPE, Ariz. – One of the CHL’s all-time greats is hanging up his skates – center Chris Richards has decided to retire from the game he played professionally for the past 12 seasons.
“It’s time to settle down with my family,” Richards said. “Though hockey has been great to us, and we have seen many great places along the way, I would like to stay in one place and grow as a family. I would say 12 years is a good career at this level.”

Richards has traveled the road of minor pro hockey since he broke in with the Indianapolis Ice in 2000 (this after a year playing in Germany). In his first of 11 straight seasons in the CHL, Richards finished averaging a point-a-game (58 points in 56 games). This trend continued for nine straight seasons as only in his final two years (2009-10, 2010-11) did he not average more than a point a game.
As a college star at Ohio State University (scored 22 goals with 52 points during his junior season), maybe Richards’ best professional seasons came upon his return to the state of Ohio. Acquired in a trade with the Austin Ice Bats in the summer of 2005, the forward gave the CHL expansion Youngstown SteelHounds an all-star center and a local hero as once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.
In his three seasons with the ‘Hounds, Richards made the All-CHL Team in 2007 and was a CHL Most Valuable Player Finalist in the same season – a season that saw him eclipse the 100-point plateau for the first and only time in his career (106 points). Only his teammate, Jeff Christian, would score more points (116) and it is Christian who would claim the MVP award with much thanks to Richards’ 67 helpers.
In his three seasons in Northeast Ohio, Richards would amass 85 goals and 193 assists for 278 points in 190 games played.
“These were by far my most memorable years of my career,” Richards said. “Going back to Ohio and playing in the state I played college seemed to bring back a new found passion for the game. I think playing closer to family and friends as well as being back in the cold winter climate had a lot to do with it. The people and city were great to us and that’s what made it a perfect place to play. Being a former Buckeye didn’t hurt either.”
The five-time CHL All-Star (03, 04, 07, 08, 09) left Youngstown and went to Corpus Christi for two seasons (again a CHL MVP Finalist in 2009) and then finished his playing days with the Mississippi RiverKings last season.
Following the 2010-11 season, the Cornwall, Ontario native was near the top of most all-time CHL statistical categories. His 706 games played were fourth all-time (just two games behind Joe Burton for third) and only four skaters had accumulated more than his 824 points. His 276 goals were eighth and his 548 assists were third most in the 19-year history of the CHL.
A different path awaits one of the CHL all-time greats, one with his wife Melissa and his young son Hunter right at his side.
“For the time being, we are staying in Corpus Christi (Texas),” Richards said. “My wife became a fourth grade Language Arts teacher, while I played here, and is as passionate about teaching as I was about playing hockey. We hope to move back up north in the near future to get closer to both our families while expanding our own. My goal is to get back into the game of hockey in another capacity, in the near future.” “I would like to thank the fans of the CHL for being so great to me and my family for the past 11 years. I would also like to thank my parents for their sacrifices and allowing hockey to be my job, and of course, my wife Melissa and son Hunter for their undying support and love throughout my entire career. It has been quite a ride! Ciao!” Comment@prohockeynews.com

TEMPE, Ariz. – In a much anticipated move, the Central Hockey League has announced fines and suspensions as a result of its weeklong investigation of the unfortunate circumstances that took place during last Saturday’s pre-season contest between the Colorado Eagles and Odessa Jackalopes.
Here is the text of the league’s press release:
 
The CHL announced Thursday the penalties as a result of the actions in Saturday’s preseason game in Loveland, Colorado. The game resulted in a 1-0 forfeit win for Colorado after Odessa failed to complete the game in the third period.

As a result of failing to complete the game, the Odessa Jackalopes organization has been fined an undisclosed amount of money, all of which will be donated on behalf of the Colorado Eagles and the Odessa Jackalopes to the Wilbur’s Fund for Women With Breast Cancer in Northern Colorado. 
Additionally, Odessa head coach Paul Gillis has been suspended three (3) games, to be served during the Jackalopes first three games of the regular season and the Odessa organization has been fined an undisclosed amount of money for public comments and incidents during the game. For their part in Saturday’s events, the Colorado Eagles organization has been fined an undisclosed amount of money for the multiple altercations at the end of the uncompleted game and acting coach for that game, Greg Pankewicz (the team’s assistant coach) has been suspended three (3) games, to be served during the Eagles three regular season visits to Odessa.    Colorado forward Brad MacMillan has been suspended 22 games for his match penalty for attempting to injure a player.  Colorado defenseman George Bradley has been suspended five (5) games for his actions during an altercation and has been fined an undisclosed amount of money for the same infraction. Colorado defenseman Mario Joly has been suspended four (4) games for leaving the players bench. “We are very disappointed with the actions that took place on Saturday night in Colorado,” Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner said. “This in no way reflects CHL hockey and we feel the appropriate parties have been held accountable. These incidents are not condoned by the league and will not be tolerated.”
The CHL will make no further public comments regarding this incident and the penalties associated with the Colorado/Odessa game on October 9, 2010.   Contact Comment@prohockeynews.com