Kenora residents stand by NHLer Mike Richards amid drug charge

Hockey fans in Mike Richards's hometown of Kenora, Ont., say they're standing behind their hometown NHL hero as he faces a drug-related charge.

The 30-year-old centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion, who is originally from the northwestern Ontario city, has been charged with possessing a controlled substance.

He was arrested on June 17 after the controlled substance, which court documents confirm was oxycodone, was intercepted by border officials in Emerson, Man., as he entered Canada from the United States.

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He was formally charged on Tuesday and will appear in Emerson provincial court on Sept. 10.

People in Kenora, which has a street named after Richards, say they will continue to root for the hockey star.

"I feel sorry for him," Garry Socholotuck, a family friend of Richards, told CBC News on Friday.

"Most people see through this and are hoping for the best for Mike and that we see him on the ice again soon."

Kings terminated contract

The Los Angeles Kings terminated Richards's contract in late June for what they called "a material breach of the requirements" of thecontract.

• Mike Richards has contract terminated by Kings

Richards had a 12-year, $69-million US contract. He had five years, worth $22 million, remaining on it when it was terminated.

Jamey Rosdobutko, who has followed Richards's hockey career, said he doesn't agree with how the Kings handled the situation.

"His play is declining but, you know, there could be a lot of reasons behind that. Maybe he's suffering with an injury that hasn't come out yet, and it's kind of like, 'OK, here's an escape to get out of paying him,'" he said.

"After all he's done, you know, that's not right."

John Percy said he has learned a lot from Richards at his hockey camps, both on and off the ice.

As well, he credited Richards with boosting Kenora's profile in the sports world.

"It gives Kenora a big name, you know. It represents Lake of the Woods and Kenora, Ontario, as an awesome hockey community and a sports community in itself," Percy said.