Richards part of hockey final four

by Tom Coombe

Sydni Richards is getting used to playing in national tournaments.

For the second consecutive season, Richards was part of a college hockey team that reached the national semifinals of ACHA Division I Women’s Hockey.

Richards plays defense for Midland University of Nebraska, which lost 1-0 to Minot State (N.D.) in a March 19 semifinal clash at Marlborough, Mass.

The loss closed out the season for Richards and Midland, which set a new program record with 27 wins.

Midland won the Women’s Midwest College Hockey League this winter and amassed an overall record of 27-6-4, and took the number-two seed into the national tournament.

“Our record this year was a huge improvement from our last year record 20-8-1, making this season the best record Midland Women’s hockey has had,” said Richards. “There were other areas where we succeeded. We made program history by beating Liberty University, six time national champions, for the first time, therefore winning our first WMCH conference championship.”

Richards added that “It was a great year with a bittersweet end, it’s only going up from here though, and Midland will be back for vengeance next year.”

A product of Ely’s youth hockey system, Richards played high school hockey for several seasons at Eveleth-Gilbert, which formed a cooperative with several schools including Ely.

In her senior year, Richards and the Golden Bears played a home game in Ely  and she eventually signed a  letter of intent to play collegiately at Midland.

Midland reached the national title game and finished second in Richards’ freshman season.

This winter, Richards played in 35 games and finished with three assists.