As the final buzzer blared inside the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena on Feb. 22, David Richer took a moment to look around. He would not have to skate off right away, as he and his 12 fellow senior classmates were honored on their Senior Day.
While Richer skated off the Oswego ice for what was the last time in his career, he has found a new home in Chambéry, France.
The Alpine town in southeast France is a city similar to Oswego, Richer explained, but is slightly larger. Chambéry is home to Les Éléphants, a team in the second-tier league in French hockey, which is known as the Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace (FFHG). Prior to crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Richer showed tendencies at Oswego State that would make him an excellent professional.
“David trained, from day one, like a pro,” men’s hockey head coach Ed Gosek said. “He conducted himself like a pro, [with the way] he ate, his body management. He was a pro in the classroom. A pro in the weight room. He was a pro on the ice … David handled [adversity] extremely well with not having things go his way his senior year.”
The adversity Gosek mentions is well-documented, as the team struggled for about a third of the season. By the end of its troubles, Richer, who started 15 games last season for a three-year career total of 56, was replaced. Richer ended his collegiate career with the second best goals against average in program history at 1.97, was fourth in save percentage (.916) and tied for third in shutouts with nine.
The Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, native did not necessarily want to start his career abroad. But, early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was Europe that offered him the opportunity to start playing far earlier.
“With COVID and everything, [playing in the U.S.] was kind of hard. I was thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll go to Europe,’ I’ve always wanted to travel,” Richer said. “I know a guy from Quebec, and the team I am on right now, he coached it last year. I sent him a text message, and he said he’ll talk to a couple of teams he knows in France.”
While Richer was looking to start out in a league like the ECHL or the Southern Professional Hockey League, Les Éléphants are in a league pretty much at the same level. As he described it, “it’s a good team to jump pro,” and to “make a name for yourself.”
In four games this season, he holds a 3-0-1 record with stellar numbers. He has allowed 2.93 goals against per game, stopping 154 of the 166 shots he has faced, good for a .928 save percentage.
Unfortunately, Richer will have to wait a little longer to get back on the ice and play professionally again. Due to COVID-19, the league shut down in late October, and the earliest restart time is December, although Richer said that others expect a January start date if the league is to resume.
Even with the success, there is certainly some apprehension in playing professionally over 3,500 miles away from home. Chambéry is a brand new town, France, a new country and Europe, a new continent.
“I was nervous for sure,” Richer said. “I did not know anything about the city I was going to, the country, the hockey level … Yes, I am getting paid, but I didn’t know what the hockey experience would be like. But it’s actually worked out pretty well, so I am happy.”
Richer has quickly learned about his new city thanks to one of his roommates. According to Richer, he helped him and their other roommates set up bank accounts, find the grocery store and even a mode of transportation that is a bit unique to Richer.
“We actually have electric scooters here which is pretty cool,” Richer said.
And, while the two cities are quite similar, Oswego is a much bigger hockey town. Oswego State boosts top-notch facilities and an arena that sells out with 3,000 fans almost every single game. On the other hand, hockey is not as big in France, with Les Éléphants playing in front of no more than 1,000 fans in their arena. Regardless of the atmosphere either side is used to, Richer enjoyed playing in both towns, so much so that he tried to recruit his former teammates.
“My GM asked, ‘Do you know Josh Zizek?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, for sure,’” Richer said. “I talked to Ziz and he didn’t really seem to want to play pro and keep playing hockey. I talked to [Michael] Gillespie, and he had his eyes set on the [ECHL].”
Richer alluded to bringing in a couple other Lakers who seem to be interested in playing abroad, a reunion the goaltender would relish.
“I miss my teammates, the fans and especially the relationships with people,” Richer said about Oswego. “You get the relationship with your teammates, but also the people you don’t know. You go to class, and everyone is friendly.”
Photo provided by David Richer
