Roberts Creek’s Stuart Richey along with teammate Matt Krueger from Abbotsford were two of the four fifth-year senior players honoured last weekend at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
The pair, alongside Casey Knight from Salt Spring Island and Blake Majcher from Brandon, are completing their five years of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) eligibility this year.
Richey and Krueger were honoured last weekend before the WolfPack hosted the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat in Kamloops.
Richey joined the program in 2010 after being recruited out of Eliphinstone Secondary School in Gibsons.
“It’s sad that my career is coming to a close. I feel fortunate I have played in the CIS for five years, but I am looking forward for what lies ahead of me in my future,” said Richey. “There have been a lot of ups and downs personally and as a team, but I think we’ve been able to pull it together and make a push for a playoff spot, which would be a great finish to my CIS career.”
He said the experience moving from high school to being a starter at the CIS level was a journey.
“I think I have grown tremendously both as a person and player since coming to TRU,” Richey added. “Having limited exposure to the game coming into my first year, I realized I had an enormous amount of work to do to catch up to some of the other players on the team. Through my work ethic, I feel as if I have continually improved as a player. Having gone through my most difficult year of my life last year [losing his twin brother Connor], I have gained tremendous perspective on what is important in life. I know how important family is, and I have had amazing support from them coming to every one of my home games and any in the Lower Mainland.”
Head coach Pat Hennelly has nothing but praise for what Richey brought to the program.
“When Stu came in he did not have a lot of volleyball experience. The Sunshine Coast doesn’t have a lot of guys’ volleyball,” said Hennelly. “He got the bug a little late in his high school career. I looked at his character and talked to people familiar with the family and thought he could be a good fit for us.
“He has fulfilled a role in training early in his career and worked his way into a starting role last year, which he never lost. He is one of the fittest and hardest working players. Stuart is a team captain as well. He brings a lot of character. It doesn’t always show up on the score sheet the things he does. People don’t know the things he does behind the scenes. He is certainly a driver of our program. I can’t say enough about the character and leadership he brings.”
Last Saturday on the court, Richey was key in picking up a huge five-set win over the Heat after battling back from a 2-0 deficit. Richey had nine kills in 23 swings with three digs.
The WolfPack are now 9-11 on the season as they continue a final push towards hopefully their second-straight post-season berth.
Knight and Majcher will be honoured next weekend when the WolfPack hosts Mount Royal.
— With files from Larry Read/Thompson Rivers University
