Hometown hero hangs up the skates

Abig tip of the cap – make that helmet – to Brad Richards.

The Murray Habour, P.E.I. native announced his retirement earlier this week, bringing an end to a stellar hockey career.

Mr. Richards has made Prince Edward Islanders proud both through his accomplishments on the ice, and in his caring acts away from the rink.

His performance over 15 years in the NHL, totalling 1,126 career games on five different hockey teams, places him among the most successful Island athletes of all time.

One could argue that he belongs at the very top of the list.

The talented and highly skilled forward notched 298 goals and 634 assists for 932 points over the course of his career. He also eclipsed the 100-point plateau in career playoff scoring, registering 105 points in 146 postseason games.

And, of course, he picked up two Stanley Cups along the way, first with the Tampa Bay Lightning and then with the Chicago Black Hawks. He calls the triumph of twice capturing the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America “the best part of my career.’’

Both times, he gleefully shared his victory and joy with P.E.I. fans by parading the Holy Grail of hockey down the main street of his hometown.

He did more than enough as a hockey player to become a hometown – and province wide hero.

But his character and caring off the ice earned him the level of respect worthy of a true role model.

Mr. Richards was always known to be very charitable during his NHL career.

He played host to the Brad Richards P.E.I. Celebrity Golf Classic for six seasons with proceeds supporting the Children’s Wish Foundation and the Autism Society of Prince Edward Island.

He created Richy’s Rascals in Tampa Bay to support children’s pediatric cancer needs and continued that work in Dallas and New York for children’s medical oncology departments.

And back on P.E.I., in 2010, he donated $500,000 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to help children in his home province.

Mr. Richards also brought the Stanley Cup to the paediatrics ward at the QEH in the summer of 2015, demonstrating again he is willing to put his time as well as his money to a good cause.

Thank you Mr. Richards for providing so much excitement while on the ice, and a good deal of philanthropy while off the frozen surface.

Prince Edward Islanders toss their hats your way.