Richard bursts past the magic number
Stoney Creek’s Jack Richard has become just the second Burlington Cougar to score 50 goals in a junior-A season.
“It’s unreal, I’m still kind of speechless to be honest,” said Richard, the former Hamilton Junior Bulldog who began playing for Burlington as a 16-year-old “because the Cougars were the only junior-A team who offered me a spot. Thankfully (coach) Mark Jooris was willing to give me the opportunity.”
Richard, the team captain, credits his linemates Jamie Langill and Jax Bellwood for the prolific shots on goal.
The 20-year-old centre, who is bound for Niagara University next year, has been on a tear for the Cougars, who have played at the junior-A level since 1994. He has 11 goals in his last six games, potting No. 50 of the season in a two-goal performance against Lindsay on Sunday and following it up with a hat trick against Oakville on Monday to soar to 53 goals in 50 games. Nobody else in the 21-team OJHL has more than 42.
The only other Cougar to score at least 50 in one junior-A season was Greg Carey, who holds the league record with his 72 in 2009-10. Richard has trained with Carey’s younger brother, Matt Carey.
Richard is the 51st player in the 51-year history of Ontario’s junior-A league to reach 50 goals. Others included future NHLers Steve Thomas, Adam Oates, Tom McCarthy, George McPhee and Tony Hrkac.
Marty Prowse had 50 goals in just 35 games for the 1981 Cougars, who were a junior-B team at the time. The leading points scorer on that team was Mark Jooris, now Richard’s head coach in Burlington.