SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals have picked up the Maritime Junior Hockey League playing rights to a Prince Edward Islander.
The Capitals acquired forward Ryan Richards of Cornwall from the Fredericton Red Wings in exchange for an eight-round draft choice in 2020, a conditional sixth-round pick in 2021 and future considerations. The conditional pick is based on Richards signing a junior A card with the Caps.
“Right now we are looking for depth on our list,” said Caps general manager Pat McIver. “He’s a hard worker, skates well and is a good player.
“He has an element to his game that not a lot of players have. That, depending on who we are playing, could be a benefit to us. He’s in-your-face and doesn’t shy away from anything. I just think he potentially could be a benefit to us down the road.”
The 19-year-old Richards is in his rookie season with the Kensington Vipers of the Island Junior Hockey League after playing three years with the Kensington Wild of the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League. He has 14 points, including eight goals, in 17 regular-season games with the Vipers and registered 95 points, including 31 goals, in 98 regular-season games with the Wild.
“I have been able to watch Ryan closely this year and I like his game,” said McIver, who also owns the Vipers. “Our plan is for Ryan to stay in Kensington this year and be a player available to us if we need one on a call-up basis.”
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