At the beginning of the season, Mason Richey took a gander at some of the all-time records in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League. With the numbers in mind, he set some objectives for himself.
On the last day of the 40-game regular schedule, he accomplished one of his major goals: he became the most prolific point-producer in league history.
Richey, a 17-year-old forward from Terrace, scored on a second-period breakaway during a Sunday game against the host Okanagan Rockets. The marker, triggered by a heads-up pass from Brendan Pigeon, stood as Richey's 137th point in the BCHMML and broke the previous points standard of 136, set by former Cariboo Cat Eli Jarvis, who skated in the league from 2010-11 to 2012-13. Richey's top-shelf shot started the Cougars - who trailed 3-0 when the puck dropped to start the middle frame - on the comeback trail and he eventually added an assist on a game-winning overtime goal by Brennan Malgunas. The Cats prevailed 6-5 and Richey had his 138th point to put him two clear of Jarvis.
"Obviously I'm pretty happy about it and I guess proud of myself," said Richey, the team captain.
Jarvis, a Quesnel product, played 111 regular-season games for the Cougars and Richey has 120 to his credit. In other words, he didn't miss a game in his three seasons with the club.
Richey's totals increased each year with the Cougars. As a 15-year-old major midget rookie in 2015-16, he had eight goals and 19 points. Last season, his 30 goals and 55 points helped the Cats win the regular-season championship. And, this season, Richey put up 26 goals and a team-leading 64 points - fifth-most in the league. The Cougars (30-7-3-0) finished two points behind the first-place Valley West Hawks (31-6-2-1) and will open playoffs at home on Friday afternoon against the seventh-place Thompson Blazers (17-21-1-1).
Richey's development in the past three seasons has been a product of hard work and dedication to making himself a better player.
"My first year was a bit of a struggle," he said. "I kind of came in and I wasn't the best player - I wasn't one of the top players by any means. I think I tried to set realistic goals and I pushed to achieve them. And I was lucky enough that I played with good players the last half of my first year and then the same guys my second year. Just having that knowledge of playing with great players and always working hard, it all kind of added up and translated into getting points."
In Richey's first two seasons, his most consistent linemates were Trey Thomas and Daine DuBois. This season, Richey has played mostly with Craig MacDonald, who assisted on a record-tying Saturday goal by Richey, his team's only one in a 4-1 loss to the Rockets.
Cougars head coach Tyler Brough has witnessed Richey's progression with the club from the very beginning. Brough, who was an assistant coach during Richey's first two seasons, said there was uncertainty outside the hockey team when Richey cracked the roster in his 15-year-old campaign.
"We were definitely questioned by a few people when he was 15, 'Who is this kid from Terrace?' and 'Are you sure you want a young player like him?' Our staff and our group that scouted during camp was very high on him and it's nice to see that a player like him can kind of back up the abilities of our staff, to do the job that he's done," Brough said.
"For me (his success comes from) his work ethic. He comes to the rink ready every day for practice, games. It doesn't matter what it is. He's a hardworking kid. I think he's been raised by some very good parents that hold him accountable and he works for everything he gets."
Richey's inner drive, combined with his hockey sense and his ability to set up and finish scoring plays, got him listed by the Western Hockey League's Kamloops Blazers last season. He attended the Blazers' training camp in the fall of 2017 but wasn't offered a roster spot. The Blazers released him but, a couple weeks later during exhibition games in Kelowna with his Cariboo team, he was scouted by the B.C. Hockey League's West Kelowna Warriors, who said they'd like him in uniform for the 2018-19 season. Richey gave the matter some thought and decided the Warriors would be a great option for him.
"(The offer from the Warriors) was definitely exciting, especially hearing a few of the former Cariboo Cougars that ended up going there," said the five-foot-11, 175-pounder. "I've always heard good things about the place so when I got the offer I was pretty happy. Everything seemed to be a good fit."
Richey and the Cougars will be in action at 5:30 p.m. on Friday (Kin 1) against Thompson in Game 1 of a best-of-three opening-round playoff series. Game 2, also at Kin 1, is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday. If a third game is required, it will start at 10 a.m. Sunday at the same rink.
