13 déc. 2016 – Times & Transcript

Commandos forward commits to Université de Aigles Bleus SEAN HATCHARD TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Université de head coach Serge Bourgeois has been watching Joey Richard’s hockey career for several years now.

Bourgeois will get to see a lot more of the Dieppe native beginning next .

Richard, a 20-year-old forward, has signed a letter of intent to play with the Aigles Bleus in the Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey conference starting in the 2017-18 campaign.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Richard played the past three seasons in the Major Junior Hockey League. He’s completing his junior career with his hometown Dieppe Commandos in the Maritime Junior Hockey League this season.

“We knew he would be a good local player who could play in the league. He’s a major junior kid with a lot of experience,”Bourgeois said yesterday.

Richard leads the Commandos and is sixth in MHL scoring with 38 points in 27 games this season. His 20 goals rank him fourth in the league.

“He’s a big player, he brings a lot of size. He’s not the meanest player out there, but he takes care of himself well,” Bourgeois said.

“He’s got a real good shot. We think if we can put a couple players with him who can give him the puck, he can score some goals in our league.”

A former scoring star with the Moncton Flyers major midget team, Richard suited up for the , Olympiques and during his QMJHL career.

He recorded 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in 132 QMJHL regular-season games and added eight points in 14 playoff games.

Richard split last season between Gatineau and Moncton, registering nine goals and 21 points in 45 games.

“Coach Serge Bourgeois showed interest and I always hoped that I could play in my city,”he said.“This was an easy decision for me. I look forward to choosing a study program and attending my first courses.

“I will end my junior career with the Commandos with hopes of winning a championship and having fun.I will then concentrate on my university career.”

Bourgeois hopes Richard’s game develops a lot like second-year Aigles Bleus forward Robbie Graham’s has.

Like Richard, Graham, also of Dieppe, spent a portion of his junior career in the

QMJHL before playing his 20-year-old season with the Commandos in the MHL.

Graham enjoyed a dominant campaign with the Commandos, earning MHL 13 déc. 2016 – Times & Transcript

player of the year honours, and is now a key player with his university team.

“He’s a major junior player. I think he could have played major junior this year if he wanted to. He’s got that skill set,” Bourgeois said of Richard.

“He’ll have to jump back up to the speed of our league and get used to our game, but I think he can fit in well in our league. He plays the game simple, he shoots the puck and does the little things, and I think his size will help him out.”

The Aigles Bleus - tied for fifth place at 7-10-1 at the holiday break - resume

AUS conference play on Jan. 4.

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Dieppe Commandos forward Joey Richard, left, will join head coach Serge Bourgeois and the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus in the AUS men’s hockey conference beginning next season. Photo: UdeM athletiCs