Havoc Welcomes Kretzer Back
August 23, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Huntsville Havoc News Release
HUNTSVILLE, AL - Huntsville Havoc head coach, Randy Murphy, announced today that the team has re-signed second year forward Ryan Kretzer and signed his former University of Nebraska-Omaha teammate in Brandon Richardson.
Kretzer joined the Havoc last season after playing 12 games in the CHL for the Mississippi RiverKings. He played in 45 games for the Havoc and scored 19 goals, recorded 23 assists and had 68 penalty minutes. His 42 points put him third on the team in scoring.
"Ryan was a priority to re-sign this off season and brings a genuine passion and level competitiveness that we demand from our players," Murphy said. "He brings the work ethic every night and this usually results in him being effective whether it is killing penalties or generating offense. We will be relying on Ryan to build off a good rookie campaign."
"I'm very excited to come back and try and win a championship in Huntsville this season," Kretzer said. "Coach Murphy and the Jeffries family is one reason I wanted to return, the other is the tremendous fan support and great people involved with team."
Richardson (6-0, 212) played in 38 games at Nebraska-Omaha in two seasons. He scored four goals and recorded 14 assists. He spent all of the 2008-09 season with the Indiana Ice of the USHL, where he played in 55 games, scored 21 goals and added 42 assists.
"Brandon should provide an immediate impact offensively for us," Murphy said. "He has produced and put up impressive numbers at every level he has played at. Playing at the highest level of Junior Hockey (USHL) Indiana Ice and Division 1 college hockey at (University Nebraska Omaha) where he was a teammate of Kretzer's. Perhaps what will impress fans the most with Brandon is his ability to create room for himself through playing with and edge and grit. He is a team player with an all-around game."
"My goal is to simply come in and have a great first season of professional hockey," Richardson said. "I saw the numbers Ryan put up last season and I want to do the same. I've been fortunate to put up some good point totals over the years so that's what I want to do. I'm not a fighter but I'm also not afraid to drop the gloves. I had a couple of opportunities at some ECHL camps but I wanted to go somewhere my first year where I knew a couple of people and would be comfortable. I'm looking forward to playing in Huntsville."
The Havoc will open the season on the road at the Augusta RiverHawks on Saturday October 22. They will open the home schedule on Breland Homes Ice on Saturday, October 29 against the Louisiana Ice Gators.
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SPHL Stories from August 23, 2011
- Meet New Surge Coach Jeff Bes - Mississippi Surge
- Havoc Welcomes Kretzer Back - Huntsville Havoc
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