(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) was named U SPORTS men’s hockey Rookie of the Year and winner of the Clare Drake Award on Wednesday, in Charlottetown.
The Atlantic University Sport Rookie of the Year, Richard was named national winner over nominees from the OUA and Canada West.
“It’s a great start to this week, that’s for sure,” said Richard. “I’m grateful for that. I guess I’ve been pretty consistent over the year. I think that’s a big key, and I’ve made some good saves at good moments, and certainly playing for UNB provides me with an opportunity to play with guys that don’t want to give up goals.”
In just his first season as a RED, Richard posted an 18-4 record. His 18 wins were the most in the country. He recorded the best goals against average in U SPORTS, 1.59, and the second-best save percentage in the nation, 0.933%.
“It’s an outstanding accomplishment, especially for a goaltender,” said REDS’ head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “This year there were so many top-notch goalies across the country. Sam had an outstanding performance and it’s also a team performance. He had to adapt quickly to our league. Our veteran, Griffen Outhouse, was recovering from off-season surgery and wasn’t really ready until Christmas, so it was a big challenge for him to step in and assume those duties in the first half and he ran with it.”
Richard’s season also earned him 2nd Team All-Canadian status and a spot on the U SPORTS All-Rookie team, along with teammate, forward Simon Pinard (Drummondville, QC).
“It means a lot for the team,” said Richard. “Goals against and save percentage are a team goal and I think this is about us, all together, reaching that. The team really helped the goaltenders in our successes.
“His preparation is meticulous,” added Coach MacDougall. “He’s an honours student, first term, in Engineering, which says something about him as a person. He’s very detail oriented, his preparation is excellent, and he personified what our program is about, trying to get a little bit better each day.”
Richard becomes the fourth UNB hockey player to win the Drake Award and first since forward Kris Bennett, in 2018. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year has come from an AUS team.
Richard and his REDS teammates skate into action at the 2023 Cavendish Farms University Cup tournament, in Charlottetown, on Thursday night.
The No. 3 seeded REDS take on the No. 6 seed, Concordia Stingers. Game time is 7:00pm.
Catch all the action, live, via U SPORTS webcast at: https://cbc.ca/player/sports/live
STORY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTO: Mike Needham/for UPEI Athletics