Richard Keyes

As the son of the former Wings Stadium manager, Dick Keyes, Richard grew up a true rink rat watching the K-Wings play as often as possible. He played his U8 youth hockey with Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association, and moved on to AAA organizations such as the Grand Rapids Whalers and the West Michigan Warriors programs. Eventually, Richard was playing for the Michigan Nationals AAA hockey program out of Detroit, playing in the top league in the country as an underage player.

In 1992, Richard played on the USA National team. He was voted Michigan’s hockey player of the year, Junior hockey player of the year, and voted runner up for the U.S.A. Hockey player of the year in 1994. His achievements helped him attain a full ride scholarship to Michigan State University, eventually going on to play professionally for 9 years.

Richard has studied the game of hockey under the tutelage of many hockey greats, developing a very unique hybrid philosophy of the game which he has incorporated into his coaching values.