Spruce Grove Saints General Manager Rob Sklaruk announced Wednesday that the team has signed defenceman James Richards (’05) for the 2024-25 season.
Richards, 19, is in his third year of junior hockey after playing in 53 games with the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) last season, tallying 21 points from the blue line. Those numbers were good enough to land Richards on the MJHL All-Rookie Team before the 6’2”, 172-pound rearguard also got into 15 games in the playoffs and was part of a Flyers team that won the MJHL Championship and competed in the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ontario.
The Port Williams, Nova Scotia native began his junior hockey career with the Truro Bearcats and the South Shore Lumberjacks in the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League (MJAHL) before heading out west to Winkler. Richards had suited up in three games for the Flyers this season, registering a goal and an assist before coming to Spruce Grove and is committed to play collegiately with Niagara University.
“We are extremely excited to add a player of James calibre to our team”, commented Sklaruk, “He has all the tools and abilities to be a feature player in the BCHL. We see James as minute munching, every situation player for us and we can’t wait to see him in a Saints jersey.”
The Saints will renew an old rivalry this weekend as they get ready for a home-and-home set against the Sherwood Park Crusaders, beginning at Sherwood Park Arena on Friday night. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with the game being broadcasted live on the Saints Radio Network as well as streamed on FloHockey.
Spruce Grove returns home to Grant Fuhr Arena for the second half of the weekend set against the Crusaders on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM with tickets available for purchase online at tickets.sprucegrovesaints.ca.