Richards named player of week

Captain Jeff Christian's foundation is donating tickets.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown SteelHounds center Chris Richards has been named the Oakley Central Hockey League Player of the Week for the opening week of the 2006-07 season.
Richards fueled the two road victories for the SteelHounds in Memphis on opening weekend, finishing with four goals and three assists. His seven points lead the CHL and his four goals are tied for tops.
On opening night, Richards scored two goals and had two assists. His second goal came in a shootout and served as the game winner giving the Hounds a 5-4 victory over the RiverKings.
Distinction
The game-winner for Richards marked the second straight year that he had scored the game-winning goal in the season opener (last year a 2-1 victory at Tulsa, the first in Hounds franchise history).
The Cornwall, Ontario, native followed that up with a three-point night on Saturday versus the RiverKings, leading Youngstown to a 4-2 victory and a 2-0 record.
The 5-10, 175-pound veteran center is coming off a career season in 2005-06 that saw him score 22 goals with 70 assists ranking him among the top five in the league in points with 92.
Richards has played in 388 CHL games in his career seeing time in Youngstown, Indianapolis, Macon, New Mexico and Austin. In his CHL career he has totaled 146 goals with 312 assists for 458 points.
Also Monday, SteelHounds captain Jeff Christian announced that the team will partner with the veteran player to create Christian's Corner.
Fifteen seats for each home game will be donated to area youth by Jeff and Dorie Christian through the newly-formed Jeff Christian Charitable Foundation.
"Dorie and I are committed to the Youngstown area," Christian said.
"We want to help youth in the area. Whether it be getting kids to a hockey game and enjoying the entire SteelHounds experience or raising funds for other youth-related projects, the Jeff Christian Foundation's goal is to brighten children's lives."
Teddy bear toss
The Foundation will be a major part of the SteelHounds charitable efforts throughout the season including a Teddy-Bear-Toss on Nov. 24 when the SteelHounds host the Corpus Christi Rayz.
Fans will be encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game and toss them onto the ice after the Hounds score their first goal of the game. The collected stuffed toys will be donated to area youth who may have a need during the upcoming holiday season.
The SteelHounds and Jeff Christian's Charitable Foundation, in conjunction with the Draught House, will hold a SteelHound's Celebrity Bartender event on Nov. 14 from 5-10 p.m.
For more information about the Jeff Christian Charitable Foundation please visit www.jeffchristian.org.
The SteelHounds will look to stay in first place in the Northeast Division when they open the home portion of their scheduled on Friday versus the Rocky Mountain Rage. For ticket information, contact the Hounds at (330) 747-PUCK or visit the team's online home at www.steelhounds.com.