When Bruce Boudreau played for the Fort Wayne Komets in the early 1990s, fans used to serenade him with ``Bruuuuuuuuccceee'' when the center made a good play.
Komets fans will get to work on their pitch again this season as the team is signing forward Bruce Richardson as a player-assistant coach. Though only 5-foot-9 inches tall and 180 pounds, Richardson, 29, is known for playing like he's much bigger, annoying opponents with his chirping, hitting and general belligerence.
``He's unbelievable,'' said former Komet Jeff Worlton who played with Richardson a few years ago. “He's one of the nicest hockey guys I've ever met in my life, but he's tough as nails. He'll do anything you need for the team. He'll fight anybody. I've seen him fight guys my size. The only reason he didn't make it to the show was because of his size.''
Richardson, who is also known for helping younger players learn the game, has played most of his career with Hershey in the American Hockey League and Louisiana in the East Coast Hockey League. Last year he played in Germany. Two years ago he played with Danbury in the United Hockey League, scoring 25 goals and 87 points in 76 games, including four goals and three assists in four games against Fort Wayne. “He is a very dedicated, very aggressive, very hungry, team-oriented hockey player that the Hershey Bears couldn't recommend any higher to any team in hockey,'' Bears President and General Manager Doug Yingst said. “His commit to the team, his teammates and the community is second to none.''
One of Richardson's Hershey teammates during the 1999-2000 season was Komets defenseman Guy Dupuis.
``He does everything well,'' Dupuis said. ``He makes things happen out there. He's a good hitter who can fight when he needs to. He was really exciting and has been a fan favorite wherever he has played because of his size and his enthusiasm. It won't be any different here.''
Richardson's favorite movie is obviously “Rudy,'' his nicknames are “The Rat'' and “The Pest'' and he has a tattoo of Chinese characters on his right meaning “Determination.'' He has received more than 100 stitches during his hockey career. He's usually the team's captain.
The only knock against Richardson is that he's been injury prone, in part because he plays with disregard for his own body. He's super-aggressive and sacrifices his body for team. Among his more major injuries, Richardson tore a knee ligament in 2000, a broken left eye socket in 2002.
“They say I'm 5 feet 8 play like I'm 6-3,'' Richardson told the Cincinnati Post in 2002. “I'm a small guy and I go out there every night and just give everything I have, and that's important when you're not a big guy.''
Comments
Chuckitt...
What do you mean he can't score??? In his time in the ECHL and UHL here are his stats each year...
76 games played 25g 62a 87pts
40 games played 19g 42a 61 pts
22 games played 10g 21a 31 pts
What else do you want?
While I will give credit to signing Bruce he is by no means a "Heavy" and more like a Danny Stewart. We still do not have a true "Heavy" in the mix nothing close to what Rockford or Port Huron have in their stable. Here is some Stats:
2001-02 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 57 5 12 17 113
2002-03 Louisiana IceGators ECHL 40 19 42 61 131
2002-03 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 4 3 0 3 2 2002-03 Hershey Bears AHL 33 4 4 8 60
2003-04 Hershey Bears AHL 51 2 3 5 89
2003-04 Louisiana IceGators ECHL 7 1 5 6 18
2004-05 Danbury Trashers UHL 76 25 62 87 138
2005-06 Iserlohn Roosters DEL 27 0 10 10 24
Has a scoring touch but not a Heavy....Like the signing, but we have to get more toughness...
Of course he isn't a heavyweight and he won't be asked to do that (although he will take them on in a second). He brings a physical game and will bring a few other physical players with him. I have some doubts that some don't realize the caliber of player the Komets signed today. Every team in minor league hockey would love a guy like him on their team. I think you will be happliy surprised when you see him play.
I am not questioning the signing, but this can not be it...We signed a guy like him last year in Galbraith and we were disappointed in his game. He did not live up to the hype, so we take a wait and see approach.
You don't take a "wait and see" approach. If you did you wouldn't say this:
"Miller will sign by default because nothing is jumping to the K's. Until their is more proof of toughness being signed then I will not fall for the company line like I have in the past."
The K's are guilty until proven innocent according to the statement that Miller is the best the thing the Komets have going with no toughness in sight. We all want the same thing with this team, you just have to sit back and be patient. At least give Bingham a chance this summer.
CHUCKIT do YOU want to help ME find some fighters to play for the komets!
KW Tie Domi is a free agent....
Wrong, Chuckitt. It would be different if it was members of the Komets saying it but they aren't. I purposely went out and got folks from outside the Komets organization to talk about Richardson, such as Bob Hartley. This is NOT the same thing because I checked him out thoroughly before writing this because I knew some of you would say that. This guy is the real deal.
He's a point a game guy at this level.
Of course they could be great, they could be awful. IT'S FREAKING AUGUST!
youre right blake. at this level hes a point a game guy, but hes only played 92 games at this level. i was going by what hes done at each level and it doesnt matter whether it was the frankes or you that hyped lance, but it was in the papers and that is the info the fans get. dont get me wrong, i liked lance and wanted him back but he had a hard time living up to the advanace kudos, so all im saying is, is only 92 games a good enough gauge to anoint this guy as the next comming? just an observation trying to get comments back.. what i see is 51 ihl games with 8 goals, 220 ahl games with 20 goals and 100 echl games with 37 goals. i dont exactly call those stats as being a big goal scorer. i think the guy will we ok, im just use to always hearing the company line about how great people are or how tough they are, before it actually happens. i raise the question is the guy the right guy to use a veterns spot on or not? not attacking anybody just want others opinions! and speaking of opinions, did i give you permission to talk to me komet warrior? not.
I like The signing and I'm CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC of how he will do this season. Unlike Lance, Richardson has the added duty of being an Assistant Coach. While I think he will be fine I won't quite buy into the "hype" until I see the product.
youve got the right aproach greg. the signing is great but im not expecting anything until we actually sign some snipers to lead the offense,(did i spell it right tony?)
Look for the Komets to annouce the signing of LW Daniel Goneau. (This year's PC Drouin?)
Remember, you heard it here first.
see i must be right! komet warrior is skate!!
YOU dont even now ME Chuckit so dont tell me Skate! Who was the person that said they new ME at the komet hockey game this last year???
Wasn't me. I would never admit to knowing you.
LOL LOL LOL LOL
Me either...Looks like Skate is Komet Warrior's "Robin" in the good Old OHIC! Although Skate was giving news before it is news, where KW gives us info that is 3 weeks old usually. KW, any news on if Colin Chaulk is coming back this season? Thanks.
I seem to remember that when Tom Lawson( my daughters favorite player) went to Hershey they had a t-shirt that was a Guys smiling face with all of his teeth missing and it said Got Teeth. Correct me if i am wrong but wasnt that Richardson's picture on the shirt. It would be great to find some of those to where to the game if it was in fact him.
Haven't been on in a while so welcome back to me :-)
Now, what's with this comparison of Richardson to Lance Galbraith? Who started that and why are others jumping on it? To me there is no comparison.
Galbraith gets 250-300 minutes each year along with 40-50 points at this level. He is a left wing who plays on the 2nd line and is expected to fight.
Richardson gets 80-90 points and 130-150 minutes. He is usually the captain and he will be the first line center. He will fight but is not expected to.
The only comparison is their size 5-10 180-190.
Joseph the comparison is the style of play and the fact that both like to hit and get under the skin of the opposition. The difference is, Bruce has the self control to stay away from the obvious slashes and other things that result in dumb penalties. As much fun as Lance was last year, he drove me (and alot of others) nuts with his open ice jabs and other things that had him going alone to the penalty box. But man did he lay a few people out with those open ice hits LOL.
Long live Gally!
as long as he's not here
Lol Hobo..he drove you nuts huh?
i just couldnt stand watching his gums flap instead of his hands. oh not to mention all the dumb penalties