Freak injury puts Richardson in the net
KITCHENER — It was supposed to be a development year for Luke Richardson.
The Kitchener Rangers wanted their young goalie to get some reps with the Kitchener Dutchmen on the Jr. B loop with an aim of calling him up to the Ontario Hockey League next season.
But a freak injury has changed everything.
Backup goalie Dawson Carty was skating toward the Rangers’ bench after an emotional 4-3 shootout win over the North Bay Battalion on Devil’s night when his teammates mobbed him in celebration.
Carty went down and suffered a severe ankle sprain. He’s currently in a boot, on crutches and out indefinitely.
“We weren’t very smart on it and those kinds of things unfortunately happen,” said Rangers head coach Mike Van Ryn. “The team was pretty upset after. They knew they messed up.”
But, as the saying goes, one man’s loss is another man’s gain.
In this case, it’s Richardson who benefits.
The 16-year-old was on fire for the Dutchmen — 10-0 with two shutouts — when he got the call. Now, with the Rangers facing three games in three days this weekend, Richardson is preparing for his OHL debut.
“I didn’t really expect it at all,” he said. “It was bad news for Dawson but it’s a good opportunity for me and hopefully I can help the club.
“I can’t wait to play my first game. I’m going to be nervous but once I get in there and the game starts I’ll be good.”
The Rangers take on Saginaw Friday, head to Owen Sound Saturday and return Sunday to host the Erie Otters — who previously No. 3 rated Kitchener replaced atop the Canadian Hockey League rankings on Thursday. Van Ryn said Richardson will start one game but didn’t reveal which contest.
“You don’t notice him in practice because he just looks like an OHL goalie,” said the bench boss. “I’m confident in him. He has played very well in Jr. B and in practice.”
The Rangers selected Richardson in the fourth round of this year’s OHL draft and he is considered the goalie of the future for the club. The Barrie native came out of the North Central Predators program and says he brings a calm presence to the crease.
Richardson began hockey as a forward but soon switched to goalie.
“We always rotated every position,” he said. “No else wanted to play goalie. I fell in love with it right away.” And it shows. The sturdy netminder has been a part of two incredible runs on the ice this season as both the Dutchies (18-1-0-1) and Rangers (14-1-3-0) have each lost just once in regulation.
“It has been pretty amazing to be apart of it,” he said.
“It was tough to leave the Dutchies but this is my goal. Playing my first OHL game is going to be an exciting moment for me.