Mike Richards, NHL free agent, charged for oxycodone possession at border

The RCMP charged Mike Richards, a centre and NHL unrestricted free agent originally from Kenora, Ont., with possession of a controlled substance while he crossed into Canada from the United States.

Court documents confirmthat the controlled substance in question was oxycodone.

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

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RCMP in Emerson have beeninvestigating Richards, 30,since he was arrested and released onJune 17, whenthey were notified that a controlled substance had been intercepted by the Canada Border Services Agency at the Manitoba town's port of entry.

He was formally charged on Aug. 25, andwill appear in Emerson provincial court onSept. 10.

The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) has filed a grievance on behalf of Richards against the Kings to contest the contract termination.

On Thursday, Jonathan Weatherdon, a spokesperson with the NHLPA,saidthe NHLandNHLPAare working on a date for a grievance hearing forRichards. That date has not been set.

Richards, atwo-time Stanley Cup champion, had a 12-year, $69-million US contract. He had five years, worth $22 million, remainingon it when it was terminated.