Richards back in state where he spent ice days

At 30, the Candian native isn't optimistic that he will climb to the NHL.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Coming to Youngstown to play hockey for the SteelHounds has been an enjoyable and much-wanted Ohio homecoming for Chris Richards, who has strong ties to the Buckeye State.
Richards, a former Ohio State player, will be performing for the SteelHounds in their home opener tonight against the Oklahoma Blazers at the Youngstown Convocation Center.
Richards, 29, from Cornwell, Ontario who played four years at Ohio State, will be at a forward spot for the SteelHounds.
The SteelHounds and Blazers play again Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at the Convocation Center to cap the arena's opening weekend of professional hockey.
The SteelHounds' next four games also will be at home, against the Tulsa Oilers Nov. 11-12, and the Laredo Bucks Nov. 15-16.
Richards (5-foot-10, 180 pounds), a strong offensive player who was acquired by the SteelHounds Aug. 11 in a trade with Austin of the CHL for future considerations, is in his sixth season in the CHL.
Wanted to come here
"I asked for the trade because I wanted to be close to my family and my wife's family because my wife is from Ansonia [northwest of Dayton]. My parents are about eight hours away," said Richards, who scored 18 goals with 54 assists in 59 games with Austin last season.
"[My parents] have an opportunity to see me play more often. It is more convenient than Texas," he added. "My family is coming down this weekend and some of [my wife's] family will come down the following weekend.
"It is a homecoming of sorts. Both of my wife's sisters live in Columbus and it is close enough for a lot of our friends in Columbus [to see games].
"The whole Ohio State hockey family will get a chance to see us play."
Richards, in five years in the CHL, has played in 322 games with 120 goals and 239 assists (359 points). He's hoping to continue to find the net with the SteelHounds.
"My job, I believe, is to put up some goals and to help set up goals and that is probably my primary job out there," said Richards.
Played in Germany
After leaving Ohio State, where he scored 43 goals with 90 assists in 151 games, he went overseas to play one year of professional hockey in Germany.
Then he joined the CHL for a one-year stay with Indianapolis, followed by 2 1/2 years with New Mexico and 1 1/2 years with Austin before being traded to the SteelHounds last summer.
Richards was discovered by Ohio State while in high school playing in the Midwestern Junior B League near Toronto in the Waterloo area.
He said he spent an extra year in high school to improve his chances to get a scholarship, and was recruited and given a scholarship by Ohio State when he was a senior.
Richards' objective in hockey now is to enjoy playing the game and to help the SteelHounds and younger players to prosper. He isn't too optimistic that he will climb to the NHL.
"I'm a little too old now at 30. The window of opportunity has come and gone," said Richards, who said NHL scouts want youth. "[I am] still young but not in the recruiting sense at the next level. They want the young guys, 22 or 23 years old, like any sport.
"I want to help with the younger guys so that they can advance to the next level."
And he also wants to take advantage of the opportunity he now has to enjoy Ohio State and old friends there and perhaps see some hockey games, which he hasn't seen lately because of his time spent in Texas.
"I'm hoping to get there this year," he said. "I saw [an OSU] football game against Texas [this year] and I'm looking forward to seeing some hockey games."
kovach@vindy.com